Iowa KidsNet Resource Family Recruiters work to recruit new families for Iowa’s foster care and adoption system. All our recruiters have either personal or professional experience with the foster care and adoption system. Your recruiter can help address your concerns, answer questions and provide support as you move through the process of becoming a resource family.   If you are interested in volunteering at Iowa KidsNet events or other initiatives, you can also contact your service area’s recruiter and find out ways you can help!     Cedar Rapids Service Area   LaSharon Duckett lduckett@iowakidsnet.com Four Oaks Family and Children's Services 5400 Kirkwood Blvd. Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 (319) 432-1169   LaSharon has a professional background in communications and social work. She's currently obtaining her master's degree in marriage and family therapy and enjoys volunteering in the local community.   Western Service Area Serita Hammel Area: Council Bluffs and surrounding counties shammel@iowakidsnet.com Lutheran Services in Iowa P.O. Box 679 Council Bluffs, IA 51502 (712) 242-7155   Serita has a bachelor's degree in management and a professional background in marketing and social services. Serita brings a wide range of nonprofit and community outreach experience to the recruitment team.   Nicole Pedersen Area: Sioux City and surrounding counties npedersen@iowakidsnet.com Lutheran Services in Iowa 2801 Jackson Street Sioux City, IA 51104 (712) 202-4598   Nicole has a degree in social work. Her background includes working with children in residential care, at-risk families and minority populations. Nicole also brings her Spanish-language skills to the recruitment team.   Des Moines Service Area   Paula Galloway pgalloway@iowakidsnet.com Lutheran Services in Iowa 3125 Cottage Grove Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311 (515) 271-7307   Paula has been a foster parent for four years and has adopted one teenager from foster care. Paula also has a professional background in sales and marketing.   Eastern Service Area   Jennai' Rusch Area: Muscatine and southern surrounding counties jrusch@iowakidsnet.com Lutheran Services in Iowa 111 W. 15th Street Davenport, IA 52803 (563) 260-2408   Jennai' has a professional background in marketing and entrepreneurship, including working with women's and nonprofits organizations. Jennai' grew up in a single parent home that did foster care for more than 30 children over the years. Jennifer Avenarius Area: Dubuque and surrounding counties javenarius@iowakidsnet.com Lutheran Services in Iowa 2255 JFK Road Dubuque, IA 52002 (563) 552-2459   Jennifer and her husband received their foster care license in 2008 and have adopted a sibling group from foster care. Jennifer has a professional background in marketing.   Northern Service Area   Amanda Tome atome@iowakidsnet.com Lutheran Services in Iowa 925 E. 4th Street Waterloo, IA 50703 (319) 430-1736   Amanda has a master's degree in social work. Her background includes ethnic outreach as well as working with at-risk youth and children and families affected by domestic violence. Family to Family Recruiter Julie Schroeder jschroeder@iowakidsnet.com Youth and Shelter Services P.O. Box 1628 Ames, IA 50010 (515) 291-3029   Julie and her husband Mark were licensed foster parents for five years. They have four children, three of which they adopted from foster care. Julie has done licensing and support work for Iowa KidsNet. She also has a background in communications. Julie works with currrent resource families to help recruit future resource families.