Our Team

Our Team

image of Jane Richardson

Jane Richardson

Executive Director

Jane Denny Richardson was promoted to Executive Director in August 2023 after spending 5 years as the Program Director at Friends of Foster Children. Jane is determined to make positive changes to the child welfare system and the community and believes that FFC is the change agent to assist in moving the system forward. She is excited to continue to grow the agency and be a support to the dependency system.

She has 32 years of experience in working in non-profits, advocating for at-risk children and their families in the fields of substance abuse, domestic violence, and child welfare. Prior to FFC, she spent years working as a supervisor in the dependency system and helped create the Extended Foster Care program for Palm Beach County and continues to advocate within the community for teenagers in foster care.

Jane has a degree from Slippery Rock University’s School of Social Work. She has also obtained Certificates from the University of South Florida in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace and Inclusive and Ethical Leadership. She has been trained in Trauma Informed Care and has a certification in child welfare case management from the Florida Certification Board.

Jane is proud of her Pittsburgh area roots but equally as proud to now be an active resident in the Lake Worth Beach community where she has lived for the last six years.

Martha Vigil

Kinship Navigator 

Martha Vigil joined Friends of Foster Children in 2022 as one of our Kinship Navigators. Martha brings nearly a decade of case management experience on both Florida coasts. In her case management days, she reunified 95% of her cases. On top of her professional experience and upstanding reputation amongst colleagues, Martha brings her deep-rooted connections with community partners. This includes, but is not limited to: judiciary, legal counseling, opposing counseling, and service providers. Martha has had substantial experience working with a diversified population including those with limited resources, disabilities, or language barriers. She looks forward to using her connections and skills for resolving problems and improving her clients' lives.

Martha graduated summa cum laude from Lynn University with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She's been happily married for 20 years, is a proud mom of an adorable 6 year old, loves spending time with her family, and enjoys traveling, cooking, and immersing herself in other cultures. Martha has a certification in Child Welfare Case Management from the Florida Certification Board. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Vagner Revol

Kinship Navigator 

Vagner Revol joined Friends of Foster Children in March 2023 as a Connections Specialist and moved into the role of Kinship Navigator. Vagner has over 10 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, and over 20 years in mental health. Throughout his career, he has serviced youth, adults, and those with a dual diagnosis. Vagner is a Trained Mobile Crisis responder and has worked with local peace officers to help those in mental health crises.


Vagner comes from Chicago, Illinois. He received a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Mount Scenario College in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. His passion is to mentor troubled youth, and have the availability to be an ear and a shoulder for support. He is a lover of all forms of art except Polka.

Danielle Gifford

Foster Navigator

Danielle Gifford joined Friends of Foster Children in 2022 as a Connections Specialist, but is now serving as the FFC Foster Navigator and Recruiter. With over 6 years of experience working within the dependency system, Danielle is able to apply her knowledge and experience to better serve and support the foster parent’s who care for the Palm Beach County’s foster children. She understands that children need a loving and supportive home to be successful, and that starts with supported foster parents. Danielle is dedicated to spreading the word within our community about the need for more licensed foster homes, and you will often catch her at events doing just that. Danielle has big dreams of finding families to foster older youth and teens, a population that she holds very near to her heart.

 

Danielle graduated from the City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a Bachelor’s degree in Deviant Behavior and Social Control, and a minor in Sociology. She relocated from Brooklyn, NY to West Palm Beach in 2016, and shockingly misses the colder weather that the Northeast brings. Danielle enjoys spending time with her family, and has one energetic daughter who keeps her on her toes.

Mariana Lopes

Community Development Coordinator

Mariana Lopes joined Friends of Foster Children in 2020 as the Administrative Assistant. She moved into the Connections Specialist role in 2021, and the Community Relations role in 2022. In this role, Mariana handles all communications, recruits and trains volunteers, organizes small-scale fundraising events, oversees social media, and networks in the community. She looks forward to building connections with local businesses and organizations for children in care. 

Mariana received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College (FAU Jupiter) in May 2020, with a minor in Law and Society. She grew up in northern Broward County and is proud of her Brazilian heritage. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with loved ones, the outdoors, and reading. She is fluent in English and Portuguese.

Jakinda Barnes

Connections Specialist

Jakinda Barnes joined the FFC team in November 2023 as the Connections Specialist. Jakinda brings to us over 13 years of experience working within the child welfare system.

Jakinda graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Social Work. Jakinda enjoys spending time with her family, reading African American Literary Fiction, and watching Court TV.


Mary Griffith-Dean

Young Adult Life Coach

With a passion for empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential, Mary brings a wealth of education and experience to Friends of Foster Children. Armed with a master’s degree in health psychology, a bachelor's degree in behavioral psychology, an associate degree in human services and a certificate in professional life coaching her journey began with an unwavering commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs of individuals transitioning to adulthood.

Having navigated the complexities of foster care and adoption firsthand, as both a foster and an adoptive parent, she recognizes the critical importance of providing a nurturing environment where every youth feels valued and supported, as well as, equipped with life skills that allow them to reach their fullest potential. Her background in human services, coupled with extensive training in psychological principles, equips her with the tools to offer holistic care and guidance to teens and young adults who are transitioning into adulthood.

As a certified life coach, she specializes in helping individuals harness their inner strengths and overcome challenges, fostering resilience and personal growth. Whether advocating for the rights of individuals who are marginalized within society, or providing guidance as a life coach, she is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of those she serves.

Through compassionate advocacy, tailored support, and evidence-based interventions, she strives to create brighter futures one relationship at a time.

In her free time, she loves to spend time with her wife and adult daughter, being in nature, paddle boarding especially in Weeki Wachee Springs and relaxing with friends/family.
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