Meet the Iowa KidsNet Matching Staff! Iowa KidsNet matches resource families with children in need of a foster home. The Iowa KidsNet matching staff are dedicated to finding the best possible match between a child and family. When Iowa KidsNet gets a referral from the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) or Juvenile Court Services (JCS) for a child who needs a foster home, our matching staff take the time to gather information about the child, including age, gender, where the child has been living, and other important information that foster families would like to know. Then, matching staff use this information to “match” with a resource family’s strengths and skills through our statewide database. Our database searches for resource families who will care for children with specific needs, such as teens with behavioral issues, medically fragile children, sibling groups, children with specific allergies, or other special matching requests by the referring worker.  For example, if the child referred is a teen who has behavioral issues, the database would search for all families who care for teens who have behavioral issues. The matching process takes into account the resource family’s geographic location because it’s very important to keep children as close to their birth home as possible. Matching staff then contact these potential families to tell them about the child. Once a family agrees to provide foster care for a child, our matching staff contact DHS with the name of the resource family - the “match." All final placement decisions are made by DHS who is also responsible for making arrangements with the resource family to place the child in their home.   Iowa KidsNet Matching Team   Sherry Core   Hi, I’m Sherry, and I’m the matching team leader for Iowa KidsNet. I was one of the first staff hired for Iowa KidsNet matching service and have been here since the very beginning - April 2007. I wanted to work here because my husband and I have done foster care for so long I thought this would be something that I was good at! I am a biological mom, adoptive mom, foster mom (since 1994), stepmom and a grandmother of seven. I love to travel and go camping. I love dogs and am somewhat a neat freak (so my family says). One of the best parts of my job is hearing updates from foster families on how foster children are doing in their home.     Erica Vincent Hi, I’m Erica.  I began working with Iowa KidsNet in September of 2009.  I graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. degree in sociology and have worked in human services and residential treatment facilities for over five years.  I enjoy spending time with my family and friends while watching Cubs games and Iowa football.  I enjoy working with children and find fulfillment in making a difference in their lives.  I am excited to be part of the matching team at Iowa KidsNet and hope to contribute in a positive way to foster children and the foster families that provide care for them.     Jennifer Rice   Hi, I’m Jennifer. I began working for Iowa KidsNet in May 2010. I have a BA in Sociology from the University of Northern Iowa and have worked in the social sciences field since 2004. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, traveling and spending time with family and friends. I grew up in a family of six kids and am very close to my brothers and sister. I hope my work with Iowa KidsNet will help build healthy, happy family ties that last a lifetime.        Sherry Lewis Hi, I’m Sherry, and I was also one of the first staff hired for Iowa KidsNet matching. I’ve been here since April 2007. I believe that all children deserve a loving home and stable family, and that’s why I wanted this job. I know and understand the challenges of foster parenting. I completely understand the dynamics in a foster home and what’s involved with making a good match between a child and family. I also have a lot of respect and admiration for foster parents. I have been a foster family since 1998 and in that year I adopted three boys.  The most rewarding part of my job is getting to match children with families who understand the need for good foster homes.   Rita Blessing Hi!  I’m Rita, and I began working with Iowa KidsNet in August of 2010. I look forward to contributing to the process of helping kids find a loving, stable home. I am a mother of four and grandmother of six. I love to travel, read, and work on projects around the house. I love kids and want to help provide safe, caring homes for them.      Melanie Wilson Hi!  I am Melanie. I am a mother of three boys. I have worked in the human services field for seven years and have a passion for helping children and families. I began my career as a treatment counselor in a residential facility and then later in community based work. I enjoy gardening, shopping, being outside and watching stock car races in my spare time. I am  hopeful and eager to assist children in finding loving, stable homes.