Meet The Team

Ericka is the driving force behind Family Ties, leading with vision, passion, and purpose. As Founder & CEO, she brings a rare blend of strategic insight and heartfelt commitment to strengthening families. With a background in global communications leadership, Ericka is known for turning big ideas into bold initiatives that create lasting community impact. She excels in strategic planning, program development, and guiding her team to deliver exceptional care and results. Ericka’s leadership isn’t just about running an agency—it’s about reshaping how families experience support, compassion, and second chances. Ericka has a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism with a minor in Sociology. 

Denesha is the heart of Family Ties' culture. As Human Resources Lead, she ensures every team member reflects the compassion, integrity, and excellence our families deserve. With expertise in building strong, people-centered teams, Denesha is committed to hiring and supporting professionals who mirror the diverse communities we serve. Her approach blends cultural humility with trauma-informed care, making her a true guardian of the agency’s pillars. Denesha’s leadership guarantees that every client interaction starts with respect, empathy, and a genuine commitment to family-centered support.

Tonya brings over 15 years of experience working with children, families, and individuals facing complex challenges. With a strong background in early childhood education, home childcare, and program auditing, she also has extensive expertise supporting individuals in recovery from addiction and homelessness. As an owner operator of a sober living home, Tonya provided structured, accountable environments that promoted healing, reintegration, and personal growth. In her role as a Facilitator, she uses trauma-informed practices and deep empathy to foster safe, supportive, and judgment-free spaces for families navigating reunification and recovery. Ms. T is a proud former owner of Ms. T's Daycare for over 15 years.

Our Strategic Initiatives Lead, Amber, brings extensive experience as a former Department of Child Services Family Case Manager and supervisor, offering deep insight into the needs of families and frontline workers. She is committed to ensuring our team grows from within the communities we serve, fostering local leadership and sustainable impact through culturally responsive strategies. Amber has a Master's Degree in Public Administration. 

As a Supervised Parent Visit Facilitator, Jalyn provides safe, structured, and supportive environments for families to connect and rebuild. With a calm presence and a commitment to family-centered care, Jalyn ensures each visit supports positive parent-child interaction, promotes reunification goals, and upholds dignity and respect for every family.

As a Home-Based Casework Therapist, Katie partners with families to strengthen their foundations through personalized, in-home therapeutic support. With a trauma-informed approach and a deep commitment to family preservation, she helps clients navigate challenges, develop healthy routines, and build lasting resilience. Katie has a Master's Degree in Social Work. 

With a strong background in mentoring, education, and behavioral support, Erica brings a wealth of experience to her role as a Supervised Parent Visit Facilitator. Her work with adolescents and children through school-based mentorship, special education, and behavior management gives her a trauma-informed, empathetic approach to family reunification. Erica is skilled in crisis prevention, individualized support, and fostering safe, structured environments where positive parent-child interactions can thrive. Erica has a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts.

Shakira brings over a decade of expertise in mental health and human services, specializing in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and family engagement. With a Master of Science in Community Psychology from Martin University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Eastern Illinois University, Shakira blends academic excellence with real-world impact.

Shakira is passionate about building culturally competent, strengths-based connections with the individuals and families she serves. Whether coaching life skills, providing therapeutic interventions, or facilitating workshops, her goal is to empower clients, strengthen family bonds, and support positive, lasting outcomes.

Daniela is a dedicated psychology professional with hands-on experience in behavioral therapy, child development, and family advocacy. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Dayton with minors in Philosophy and Spanish, bringing both clinical insight and cultural competence to every role she serves.

Daniela’s background includes direct work as a Registered Behavior Technician, where she implemented evidence-based ABA strategies in both clinical and in-home settings. She also worked as a Spanish Interpreter, bridging communication gaps between families and providers with care and accuracy. As a home-based caseworker and supervised visit facilitator, Daniela combines her training, multilingual fluency, and deep empathy to support meaningful parent-child interactions in safe, structured environments. 

Alicia brings over a decade of experience working with children, families, and individuals with diverse needs, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. She has served in roles ranging from School Age Coordinator to Independent Contractor for family home support, where she provided crisis intervention, parent education, and individualized care.

With a strong background in case management, program development, and supervised visitation, Alicia is passionate about supporting families holistically—addressing emotional, social, and practical needs to help them build stability and thrive. Her expertise in coordinating care, facilitating family connections, and modeling positive guidance makes her an invaluable member of the Family Ties Haven team.

Tia G. is a faith-based facilitator, chaplain, and ordained minister who brings both spiritual guidance and professional expertise to her work. A former Family Case Manager with the Indiana Department of Child Services, she offers families a wealth of knowledge and compassion rooted in faith.

She holds a Master of Divinity in Corporate Chaplaincy from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education from Martin University. Tia is dedicated to supporting families through trauma-informed, faith-based care that fosters healing, growth, and resilience.

Tami brings over two decades of experience working with youth, families, and professionals across education, counseling, and the justice system. She has served as a teacher, youth counselor, probation officer, and most recently as a Quality Assurance and Development Officer for the Marion Superior Court Probation Department.

In this role, she designed and facilitated training programs, mentored staff, and led casework audits to ensure accountability and excellence in service delivery. Throughout her career, Tami has been recognized for her dedication—including being named Marion County Juvenile Probation Officer of the Year in 2010—and she has consistently demonstrated a passion for guiding youth and supporting professional growth. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with a minor in Social Work from Valparaiso University.

Jhordan is passionate about supporting individuals and families through moments of challenge and change. In her current role as a Mobile Crisis Provider, she delivers immediate mental health support, conducts risk assessments, and connects clients to vital community resources.

Her experience also includes guiding high school students as a college and career counseling intern, providing academic and mentoring support in schools, and building strong client service skills in professional settings. Jhordan’s ability to meet people where they are—with empathy, guidance, and practical solutions—reflects her dedication to helping others thrive. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science with a concentration in Human Development and Family Studies from Indiana University Bloomington.