We walk with adoptive and foster families before, during, and after they bring children into their homes—intentionally moving toward them rather than waiting for a crisis. Our relationship-centered approach is unique: we work with children and parents together, strengthening families from the inside out. We offer individualized care for their family, trauma-responsive therapeutic services, and a marriage retreat focusing on the unique experience of adoptive and foster parents. Rooted in our Christian faith and open to all families, we invest for the long term, so children and their grownups can learn, unlearn, and relearn—making way for change that carries across generations.
We are growing our team! We want to add another Family Care Partner to the team as well as a Project Partner. If you’re excited about what we do and how we do it, we’d like to connect.
Kelly Raudenbush, MA Executive Director
Kelly founded The Sparrow Fund along with her husband Mark in 2011. She spearheads our Child + Family Services for adopted and foster children and their families along with Banks, our facility dog/canine cotherapist. Kelly has a particular interest in (a) partnering with parents to help children understand their stories in healing ways; (b) encouraging, equipping, and empowering parents to experience healing relationship as they navigate the effects of trauma; and (c) helping caregivers and teachers of vulnerable children best experience the power of relationship. Kelly and Mark have been married since 1998 and have 3 biological children and 1 daughter who was adopted as a toddler from China in 2010. You can read more about Kelly’s professional background on the Child + Family Services page. You can contact Kelly directly at kellyraudenbush@sparrowfund.org.
Mark Raudenbush Director of Operations
Mark founded The Sparrow Fund with Kelly in 2011, having been changed by the adoption of their youngest child and desiring to serve adoptive families. While he focuses much of his attention on nonprofit operations and relational leadership, Mark has a particular interest in pursuing transforming relationships with adoptive and foster parents eager to do the right thing for their families. Mark has been trained to encourage and equip parents to understand and implement Trust-Based Relational Intervention® and earned a certificate in nonprofit management from La Salle University. You can contact Mark directly at markraudenbush@sparrowfund.org.
Karissa Forino Child + Family Therapist
Karissa came to The Sparrow Fund with a decade of experience walking alongside parents and caregivers in settings adjacent to the adoption and foster care communities. Beginning her practice in the city of Philadelphia, her clinical experience in strengthening relationships between children and their caregivers has largely taken place in some of Philly’s most under-resourced neighborhoods. This experience uniquely prepared Karissa to support families as they navigate the systemic and relational complexities of adoption and foster care. After earning her Masters of Social Work from Cambellsville University, Karissa developed a clinical focus that integrates an understanding of the larger social and systemic forces impacting families with the foundational principles of attachment. Karissa and her husband Brandon moved to Phoenixville in 2022, where they are now raising their two children with a heart for community and a desire to serve their neighbors. You can contact Karissa directly at karissaforino@sparrowfund.org.
Abby Anderson Family Care Program Director
Abby and her husband Bjorn attended The Sparrow Fund’s first Together Called marriage retreat back in 2012, just a few months into a long and arduous international adoption journey, and they have attended every year since. In 2019, they were accepted into our Family Care Program where they received support until they were home with their daughter from India for a full year. As a long-time recipient of The Sparrow Fund team’s care, Abby knows personally how impactful the support we offer can be. She enjoys serving others in providing that care through coming alongside families through the ups and downs of their adoption journeys. You can contact Abby directly at abbyanderson@sparrowfund.org.
Kristen Pickard Family Care Partner
Kristen has had a heart for foster care and adoption for as long as she can remember, a heart that grew after a missions trip to visit children in institutional care in Belarus in 1998. Since then, foster care and adoption have been part of her family’s story. Kristen and her husband Brian have four children between the ages of 12 and 21, two of whom were adopted domestically. They also have provided interim care for a number of children and have served vulnerable families through Safe Families for Children. Through these experiences, she was moved into a posture of significant learning and personal growth that has overflowed into serving other adoptive and foster parents. And, Kristen and her family have been served by our Child + Family Services directly, informing her role as a helper to other families in our programs. You can contact Kristen directly at kristenpickard@sparrowfund.org.
Michelle Lagola Team Care Partner
Michelle brings professional experience in nonprofit management as well as research to The Sparrow Fund team. She and her husband Ryan are raising three young children right in Phoenixville where The Sparrow Fund’s home base is. She is excited to be supporting the overall organization administratively and our whole team as we do all the things we do day-to-day, month-to-month, and year-to-year. You can contact Michelle directly at michellelagola@sparrowfund.org.
Banks Facility Dog
Banks came to us as a pup from Birmingham, Alabama. Under the expert tutelage of Louie, our first facility dog, and training and care of Kelly, he has grown into his role as The Sparrow Fund’s second facility dog. He enjoys full-body wagging, Kelly’s office chair, Kelly herself, and pretty much everyone who pays attention to him. He brings energy, fun, and English golden fur into the clinical space for the good of children and their grownups. Banks is not at all camera shy and enjoys his online presence on social media on Facebook and Instagram.
We are supported by a Board of Directors and a Program Advisory Council. Email us at info@sparrowfund.org to learn more.
