About

About

As an organization dedicated to ending child abuse, Family Advocates addresses the full spectrum of need with comprehensive programs for both prevention and advocacy.

Board Of Directors

MATT WOLFF

President,

Finance Committee

President, St. Luke's Health Plan

BRADY WATKINS, CPA

President Elect,

Finance Committee Chair

Senior Associate,

Ripley Doorn & Company, P.L.L.C.

REID STEPHAN Secretary, Building Committee, Governance Committee VP, CIO St. Luke's Health Plan

ERIC GLOUSER Governance Committee, Past President Senior Vice President Consumer Credit Ops, Citi

Stacy Pewe

Advancement Committee Chair, Gala Auction Chair,

Governance Committee

Senior VP, Human Resources, Trinity Health, Service Area One

Terry Scraggins, Lmsw

FSEP Committee Chair,

Immediate Past President

Co-Director, Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

TYLER WILLIAMS CASA Committee Chair Shareholder, Nelson Williams

SARAH BETTWIESER FSEP Committee

Past President Government Relations Consultant, Cygnet, LLC.

RUTH COOSE CASA Committee Deputy Prosecutor, Ada County

DARCY HOELLWARTH Building Committee Chair, Gala Event Co-Chair, Advancement Committee, Past President Attorney

Amanda Jones

Governance Committee

Director, Incentive Compensation, STERIS

TRACI LEIJA Gala Event Co-Chair, Advancement Committee Active GAL

NICHOLE VELASQUEZ FSEP Committee Administrator of Instruction and Achievement, West Ada School District

PAUL ZURLO Finance Committee President and Chief Executive Officer, Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service, Inc.

KATHRYN SEEBOLD Executive Director

Administration

Kathryn Seebold

Executive Director

Tammy Hawthorne

Operations Director

Advancement

Megan

Anderson

Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator

Trina Cortabitarte

Grant & Donor Relations Manager

Jenna Mcclure

Community Engagement Manager

Programs

Maggie Thompson

Director of Programs

Cameron Tidwell

Program Data Supervisor

Family Strenthening Education

Kate Cook

Youth Development Coordinator

Family Resiliency Education Coordinator

Lola Riley

Family Resiliency Education Supervisor

Casa

Mary Anderson

Advocate Coordinator

Ralph Blount

Advocate Coordinator

Maritza Bluma

Advocate Coordinator

Cassy Charbonneau

CASA Advocate Supervisor

Jayme Neiderhauser

Case Intake and Database Coordinator

Katie Moore

CASA Advocate Supervisor

Angie Pearl

Training and Pro Bono Attorney Supervisor

We are always looking for talented people to join our team.

EXPLORE CAREERS

Mission Statement

Family Advocates mission is to protect children, strengthen families, and prevent child abuse through advocacy, education, and support.

Vision

A community where every child is safe, every family is supported, and abuse is prevented before it begins.

Values

Child-Centered Safety The safety, well-being, and voice of children guide every decision we make. Family Strength We believe strong, supported families are the foundation of healthy communities. Prevention First We focus on early intervention, education, and support to stop abuse before it occurs. Compassion & Dignity We meet children and families with empathy, respect, and without judgment. Collaboration We partner with families, professionals, and communities to create lasting change. Integrity & Accountability We act ethically, responsibly, and transparently in all that we do.

History

Family Advocates is a private, independent 501 (c)(3) non-profit agency founded in 1978 and serving Southwest Idaho. Our founders, two sets of foster parents—Jean and Glen Hogin and Mr. & Mrs. Richard Murphy—saw the need for advocacy for children and established a long-term vision of seeing the end of child abuse in Idaho. Family Advocates was incorporated in Idaho on September 28, 1978.

The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in Idaho began late in 1980, when the Junior League, the Idaho Bar Association, and Family Advocates received permission from the Honorable Richard Grant, Juvenile Magistrate, to initiate a pilot Guardian ad Litem program in Ada County. In 1982, the CASA program officially accepted its first child protection referral and, in 1986, Family Advocates, including attorney Eric Haff, took an active role in working with legislators (carried by Rep. Celia Gould) to revise the Child Protection Act to clearly define the role of a Guardian ad Litem (GAL). The CASA program at Family Advocates serves children in foster care in the Fourth Judicial District (Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties).

Our CASA program is structured following the Idaho State Child Protection Act and National CASA Standards. Idaho Code mandates that a trained and qualified volunteer Guardian ad Litem (GAL) be appointed to advocate for the best interests of children during the course of their child protection case. A presiding magistrate judge orders the appointment of the Family Advocates’ CASA Program and the Program appoints a volunteer GAL to each case. Guardians complete an extensive, independent review of each case and report their findings to the court, advocating for the child’s best interests.

Keeping families healthy and stable was the foundation of the Family Advocates vision. The program has evolved to include best practices and theories of modern day and has expanded out from Boise to several rural locations. In 1978, Family Advocates began working alongside families through a Home Visiting program and continues to provide systems of support through the Family Strengthening Education Program. Over the past 40 years, Family Advocates has managed family support programs such as Home Visiting, STEP, Parents Anonymous®, BabySteps, the Youth Enhancement Program, and Family Strengthening. By combining all of the working aspects of these programs into one curriculum, Family Strengthening Education (based on the 5 Protective Factors), we are able to approach each family holistically.

In 2025, Family Advocates officially unveiled a support hub for families under the new Darcy Hoellwarth Family Resiliency Center (DHFRC) offering a variety of programs and services designed to strengthen family bonds, reduce stress, and advance hope across all populations and demographics. The core of our center's work is our family education programming which provides tangible skills and knowledge to improve family well-being. The DHFRC offers additional crucial supports to help families thrive beyond our educational programs; case management, media center access and Family Resiliency Law Clinic.