The Education Institute is proud to represent a highly acclaimed faculty that is state and nationally recognized for excellence in the field of child welfare. Specialized courses, conferences and workshops can be developed to meet the needs of professionals and parents nationwide.
Carol Biddle
Carol Bishop
Charles Chambers
Margaret Creek
Relinidis Lorie Diaz
Valerie Golden
Ron Huxley
Grace Katzenstein
Ben Madia
Allison Davis Maxon
Laura Ornelas
Cynthia Roe
Sharon Kaplan Roszia
Del Stewart
Gayle Ward
Graham Wright

Carol Biddle, MSW

Carol is President and CEO of Kinship Center. Carol’s career includes four decades in child welfare and children’s mental health. Carol received her MSW from the University of Georgia.

She has guided the development, continuous refinement, and dissemination of ACT since it was introduced in 1993.

Carol Bishop, LMFT

Carol is a co-founder and Executive Vice President of Kinship Center. She has worked as a social worker, supervisor and administrator since 1965.

Carol trains both professionals and parents, and consults in several areas of agency practice and administration.

Charles Chambers

Charles is a Kinship Caregiver Support Program Director (Family Ties) with Kinship Center. He has ten years experience in kinship care support services.

Charles is recognized for his expertise in kin care, Human Services and Medi-Cal, and speaks statewide on the challenges facing families.

Margaret Creek

Relinidis Lorie Diaz, LMFT

Relindis counsels children of all ages, specializing in diverse famlies and the birth to five population. Relindis is a Program Coordinator at Kinship Center.

She is both a parent and professional educator, and was previously an adjunct professor in CSU Fresno’s graduate counseling program.

Valerie Golden, LCSW

Valerie is a Therapist with Kinship Center, counseling children and supporting their families. Valerie’s work experience includes juvenile institutions, probation, women’s recovery, and child welfare services.

She is both a Parent Trainer and ACT Facilitator for Kinship Center. Valerie also presents on multiculturalism and diversity.

Ron Huxley, LMFT

Ron is a Director at Kinship Center. He has worked in the mental health field since 1990 as a clinician, advocate and educator. He has a MS degree from CSU Fresno.

Ron is the author of the book “Love and Limits: Achieving a Balance in Parenting” and has traveled nationally speaking on Parenting and Anger Management topics.

Grace Katzenstein, LCSW

A therapist and clinical social worker 30+ years, Grace is a Clinical Supervisor at Kinship Center. The past 6 years she’s worked primarily with foster and adoptive families.

Grace is will soon be certified a Yoga teacher for children, and she leads weekly children’s yoga groups at Kinship Center.

Ben Madia

Allison Davis Maxon, MFT

Allison is the Regional Executive Director for Placement and Education, and is an educator and therapist. She has a passion for integrating the science of attachment theory into helping families heal.

Allison is an ACT Facilitator. She also develops customized curriculum in a broad range of specialized topic areas.

Laura Ornelas, LCSW

Laura is a Regional Mental Health Director for Kinship Center. She has worked in Foster Care and Adoptions since 1994 as a social worker, therapist and mental health director. She has an MSW from University of Southern California.

Laura trains both professionals and parents, and is also an ACT Facilitator.

Cynthia Roe, LCSW

Cynthia, a Clinical Supervisor for Kinship Center, has worked in Foster Care and Adoptions since 1986. She holds an MSW from the University of Southern California.

Cynthia has trained parents locally and nationally. She is an educator with Kinship Center’s ACT and Bridge Builder’s, as well as with the PRIDE curriculum.

Sharon Kaplan Roszia, MS

Sharon is Kinship Center’s Emissary for the Education Institute.  She entered the adoption field in 1963, and has received national awards, including Child Advocate of the Year and the Congressional Angel in Adoption.

Sharon is both a co-founder and Facilitator of ACT. She lectures extensively domestically and abroad, and is the author of two books.

Del Stewart, LCSW

Del is Regional Executive Director for Mental Health Services and Wraparound. She has  worked with foster/adoptive children and their families in the community for more than 25 years.

Del has been an affiliate professor at local universities and colleges, training and supervising graduate students and interns.

Gayle Ward, MA

Gayle is a Senior Social Worker with Kinship Center. She entered the field in 1976

Gayle has been an ACT Facilitator for ten years. As a Lead Parent Trainer, her focus in recent years has been in supporting parents and children through the challenging stages that come with the making of a new family.

Graham Wright, MSW

Graham is the architect and Program Director for Kinship Center’s Adoption Wraparound & regional Post Adoption Services programs. Working in child welfare since 1971, he was also the California Adoption Agency Association President for several years.

He has presented statewide on Wraparound, adoption and foster care issues.


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Please contact the Education Institute of Kinship Center for information about having one of our faculty members create custom curriculum for you or present at your event.

Ph 831-455-9965 or 800-4KINSHIP