Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families

Bridging the gap between research and practice in global orphan care.

God cares deeply for orphaned and vulnerable children.

Scripture consistently portrays God's intent for children to be cared for with excellence. As Christians, we are called to express His love as we care for vulnerable children. Yet, finding the best ways to do that can be overwhelming and confusing.

We’re here to ease that burden and empower you to offer better care and see better outcomes for the children you serve. We conduct and translate the best possible research to develop resources that equip you to confidently care for vulnerable children and families with excellence.

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A Trusted Authority in Global Orphan Care

With decades of direct field experience reflected in our team, we intimately understand the challenges faced by those serving vulnerable populations worldwide.

Through strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions, researchers, governments, and NGOs in over 130 nations, we utilize the latest global research to provide you with resources to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families. 

Countless programs have been transformed by our evidence-based solutions and practical resources, cementing our reputation as a trusted Christian authority in global orphan care.

CENTER ON APPLIED RESEARCH FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Impact Highlights

5,000+

Participants at the OVC Research Symposium events held since 2013

17+

Original peer-reviewed research papers published on topics related to vulnerable children and families

$200K+

Invested through microgrants to spark innovation and facilitate program evaluation

949

Programs served through our Core Elements of Success program since 2018

Meet Our Team

The CAFO Research Center Team is dedicated to equipping you in the work of caring for vulnerable children and families.

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Julie Bolos

Communications Coordinator

Julie Bolos

Communications Coordinator

Location:

Wisconsin

One place I’ve always wanted to visit:

Patagonia is at the top of the list, but my travel wishlist is never-ending!

Favorite pastime activity: 

Traveling, reading classic literature, hiking, sewing, cooking, and trying new artistic endeavors!

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee, black!


More about Julie:

Julie works as the Communications Manager for CAFO’s Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families. Prior to this role, she has worked with vulnerable children and families in various capacities and in multiple countries. Most recently, she and her family were living and working in Southern Peru where they were supporting the care of vulnerable children and families and helping to build the vision for family-based care solutions in Peru. Julie received a MA in Counseling from Denver Seminary and a BA in Communication from Colorado State University. Born and raised in Colorado, Julie loves to travel and explore the world with her husband and three kids. They have had the opportunity to live in Scotland, Israel, and Peru. She enjoys few things more than evenings spent with friends, new and old, over good food and good conversation.

Joscey Brecheisen

Administrative Coordinator

Joscey Brecheisen

Administrative Coordinator

Location:

Illinois

One place I’ve always wanted to visit:

Hawaii

Favorite pastime activity: 

Spending time with my family, biking, traveling and watching documentaries.

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee


More about Joscey:

Joscey Brecheisen serves as the Administrative Coordinator for the Research Center. Prior to this role, she worked as a family support specialist in a Head Start program in her community. She has worked in the foster care system as well as the Early Intervention program of Illinois. After studying and volunteering in Central America while earning her BS in Social Work, she felt a call to help support and strengthen families and children. She and her husband moved to the west side of Chicago 27 years ago for full-time ministry with youth and families. They helped plant and lead a house church while mentoring many youth through Bible studies, camping trips, and living in their home. In her free time, Joscey loves watching documentaries, biking, hiking, and traveling with her husband and 3 children.

Katrina Brown

Finance Coordinator

Katrina Brown

Finance Coordinator

Location:

California

One place I’ve always wanted to visit:

Paris

Favorite pastime activity: 

Camping and leisurely walks

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee


More about Katrina:

With a background in Child Development and working with children in various settings for over 10 years, Katrina quickly witnessed the importance of approaching children’s well-being and development through their families and community. After many international trips, God’s prompting, and a hunger to learn more about community support systems for families, Katrina went to graduate school and received her Master’s degree in International Community Development. She is passionate about seeing vulnerable families strengthened and supported so their children can thrive.

Katrina and her husband, Jonathan, have been serving on their church ministry team for the last 4 years, supporting families involved in Safe Families for Children or Foster Care (and are an approved Safe Family themselves). Katrina is honored to be part of the CAFO team!

Katrina loves camping, exploring new cities, and road-tripping with her husband. Some of her favorite pastimes are going on walks (preferably by a body of water), playing board games, and watching cooking shows.

Analu Cornejo

Latin America Liaison

Analu Cornejo

Latin America Liaison

Location:

Peru

One place I’ve always wanted to visit:

Hawaii

Favorite pastime activity: 

Dancing and spending time with friends doing anything fun outdoors

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee


More about Analu:

Analu lives in Arequipa Peru. She serves as the LA Liaison for the Research Center. For the past years she has worked serving vulnerable children and families along a team of psychologists and Social Workers with Kids Alive. She Graduated from the Saint Agustin University in Arequipa. She has a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College. She has worked both for Non-Governmental institutions and in private practice cross-culturally serving English and Spanish speaking client.

Analu enjoys learning more about how to serve the Lord better at her church and with her profession. She loves spending time playing with her two nephews who are 5 months and 2 years old.

Joy Fitterer

Learning Manager

Joy Fitterer

Learning Manager

Location:

Tennessee

One place I’ve always wanted to visit:

Greece

Favorite pastime activity: 

Attending a MLB or minor league baseball game

Coffee or Tea?

Tea


More about Joy:

Joy serves as the Learning Manager for CAFO’s Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families. Prior to this role, Joy has spent the last 18 years as a public school teacher, instructional coach, university professor, director of education and nonprofit board member for organizations serving students and families in the U.S. and abroad. She has also served the local church as a Missions Director and Director of Leadership Development. As a lifelong educator and learner, Joy is especially passionate about creating experiences that foster growth and development for the vulnerable and overlooked.

Joy received an Ed.D. in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change from Lipscomb University, a MS. in Cultural and Educational Policy from Loyola University-Chicago, a MS. in Language, Literacy and Specialized Instruction from DePaul University, and a BS. in Secondary Education, English, and Journalism from Butler University.

When she isn’t working, Joy loves exploring fun restaurants, sport stadiums, and hidden gems in new cities with her husband and two daughters. She also enjoys tending to her garden, supporting the local theater scene, anything creative and crafty, coffee shop conversations with good friends, and cheering on her hometown Chicago Cubs. Joy and her husband are also adoptive and former foster parents, and together, they love to partner with and support other adoptive and foster families as well as those who feel called to wrap around them.

Dr. Mandy Howard

Dr. Mandy Howard

Research Fellow
Dr. Mandy Howard

Dr. Mandy Howard

Research Fellow

Location:

Alabama

One place I’ve always wanted to visit:

Gates of the Arctic National Park, AK

Favorite pastime activity: 

Hiking and camping

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee before 9am, tea anytime after!


More about Mandy:

Dr. Mandy Hiles Howard is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Samford University. She came to Samford after serving as the Assistant Director of the TCU Institute of Child Development. She worked closely with Drs. Karyn Purvis and David Cross in the development of Trust-Based Relational Interventions, which is a trauma-informed evidence-based approach to working with children who have a history of trauma.

Mandy’s professional interest broadly falls under the category of applied developmental psychology. Her work integrates theory, research and practice in a concentrated effort to increase understanding of the interpersonal processes underlying mental health and quality of life for children and youth in non-traditional care. Her research has generated a great deal of political and public policy interest both nationally and internationally. Some of her major engagements include addressing Australian Parliament and meeting with the Prime Minister, speaking at the internationally simulcasted Empower to Connect Conference, and training professionals within the Department of Family and Protective Services in multiple states.

Megan Roberts

Project Assistant

Megan Roberts

Project Assistant

Location:

Alabama

One place I’ve always wanted to visit:

New York City

Favorite pastime activity: 

Reading, drawing, exercising, walking my dog, listening to music

Coffee or Tea?

Neither! I prefer water 🙂


More about Megan:

Megan began her journey with CAFO as a volunteer research assistant during her undergraduate degree. One thing lead to another, and now she has been working for CAFO as a research center project assistant for the past few years! Throughout the end of her undergraduate career and into her graduate studies, she has been a part of the Research Center’s team. Now, she is currently balancing her graduate counseling degree, her work with the CAFO Research Center, and her counseling internship. Ever grateful to have been a part of the Research Center during her beginning professional career, Megan hopes to continue her work with CAFO well beyond her graduation day next Spring!

Dr. Nicole Wilke

Director, Research Center

Dr. Nicole Wilke

Director, Research Center

Location:

Peru

One place I’ve always wanted to visit:

Thailand

Favorite pastime activity: 

Hiking

Coffee or Tea?

Tea


More about Nicole:

Dr. Nicole Wilke serves as Director of CAFO’s Applied Research and Best Practice Initiative. Prior to this role, she worked as a child and family therapist, missionary, in juvenile detention, and with children with special needs. Through her professional and personal life, she has gained extensive experience with foster care, adoption, residential care, trauma recovery, transitioning to family care, OVC research, and cross-cultural ministry. Nicole has degrees in Psychology, Family Studies, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Permanency and Adoption Competency. She lives with her family in Peru, where they work to see vulnerable children raised in families.

Take your next step toward better care

Join us in overcoming challenges, finding renewed joy, and improving outcomes for the children and families you serve.

Improving Care

Improving Care

Evaluate your work and equip yourself with evidence-based practices for better outcomes.

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Family-Based Solutions

Family-Based Solutions

Children belong in families. How do we provide that for the millions of kids separated from family care?

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Connecting Research & Practice

Connecting Research & Practice

Research can help us understand more about God’s intention for children to be in families, and what happens when they aren’t.

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Join us on the journey of learning to serve children and families better…together.

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