Meet Our Team

A united team with one goal: helping children and families thrive.

At Children’s Hope Foster Family Agency, our team is more than a group of professionals—we're a community united by purpose. From social workers and counselors to administrators and program coordinators, each member brings compassion, experience, and dedication to the children and families we serve. We believe every child deserves a safe, supportive environment, and our team works tirelessly to make that a reality every day.

Our team is a diverse group of dedicated professionals who work together to provide compassionate, expert support for every child and family in our care.

Social Workers & Case Managers – Walk side-by-side with foster youth and families, offering consistent support and guidance.
Program Coordinators – Oversee specialized services such as transitional housing, counseling, and visitation to meet unique individual needs.
Administrative Staff – Ensure smooth operations by managing essential behind-the-scenes details with care and precision.
Leadership & Directors – Provide vision, drive systemic improvements, and keep our mission focused on child well-being.
Support Staff – Handle logistics, communication, and coordination across all levels of care.

Together, we deliver trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and person-centered services that uplift the children, families, and communities we serve.

Where Our Mission Began

In 2000, Benjamin and Heather Payne were deeply moved by their personal experiences—fostering seven-year-old twins for three years, caring for drug-exposed infants at the local hospital, and placing brothers Josh and Travis into one of their Children’s Hope foster homes. These moments sparked a desire to do more. That experience opened their eyes to the profound joy of working alongside foster parents—often unnoticed and unsung heroes—who were truly making a difference by providing safe homes, family, connection, and community for infants, siblings, and youth. The dedication and compassion of these foster parents deeply inspired them.

Their passion to start Children’s Hope Foster Family Agency also stemmed from a personal need to become certified foster parents in Butte County to care for extended family, as well as from Benjamin’s work with teens in need of stable, supportive homes. As a young family raising their own children, the Paynes found deep fulfillment in mentoring youth and supporting families in times of crisis.

Guided by their faith and a shared desire to serve, Benjamin—a group home counselor—and Heather—a registered nurse—founded Children’s Hope Foster Family Agency. What began as a two-person effort has grown into a mission-driven organization that has helped place over 7,000 children in foster care and supported more than 600 foster families across Northern California.

At the heart of Children’s Hope is the belief that every child deserves a chance to heal, grow, and feel a sense of belonging—no matter their past. Whether it’s picking up a child in the middle of the night, cheering them on at their first baseball game, or helping a teen prepare for adulthood, the Paynes and their team respond with compassion, commitment, and love.

Their journey is a testament to the power of faith, purpose, and community—and their impact continues to grow, one child at a time.