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Leading the Way

The Baby Fold is a nationally recognized leader in the field of child well-being. Our expert team of innovators focus on the treatment of childhood trauma, special education, and family wellness. We share our expertise on a local and national stage. Meet some of our staff: 

Expert Instructors and Trainers

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Dr. Bush is a consultant and trainer for The Baby Fold. She is a Post Adoption Program Specialist for the Center of Adoption Support and Training Services in MD, a consultant to Texas Christian University Karyn Purvis Institute for Child Development and serves on the Illinois DCFS Adoption Advisory Council. Dr. Bush co-authored Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) for Adopted Children Receiving Therapy in an Outpatient Setting. Dr. Bush is recognized internationally as an expert lecturer on Trusting Up the ARC (Integrating TBRI and ARC Therapy Model for Better Treatment), is a Practitioner of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) and trainer of Trauma Informed Classrooms, Integrative Parenting, Mindfulness, Understanding Trauma, Creating a Trauma-Informed School Environment, and Managing Children with Trauma in the Classroom.  Dr. Bush and Dr. Lusk collaboratively developed implemented a new statewide program called START 24/7, a holistic perspective on providing assessment and therapeutic services and support to families raising children with trauma.

Dr. Bush has a Master’s degree in counseling from Bradley University and a doctoral degree from Chicago School of Professional Psychology: International Psychology: Trauma -Services track.  She possesses a vast array of trainings including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Attachment Self-Regulation and Competency, Theraplay, Neuro-Sequential Model of Therapeutics, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

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Dr. Lusk has devoted his career to working with trauma survivors and their families, and providing training and consultation on trauma-related issues, parenting special needs children, attachment disorders, psychotropic medications, reintegration after deployment, and psychiatric disorders.

Prior to coming to The Baby Fold, Dr. Lusk was on the faculty at UCLA and Illinois Wesleyan University.  He continues to instruct courses at Illinois Wesleyan University and has been actively involved in investigative research on trauma since 1985. He has consulted with a number of schools in Illinois, California, Washington, and Wisconsin. Dr. Lusk has presented at local, regional, national, and international conferences on understanding and treating psychological trauma, and has published several articles and book chapters on the effects and treatment of child trauma.  He also serves as a national trainer for PESI on understanding and treating trauma, and has trained thousands of professionals in more than 20 states.

Dr. Lusk earned his Master's and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles and has trained in a variety of interventions including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) model, Collaborative Problem-Solving, couples and family therapy, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

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Mr. Brotheridge has worked at The Baby Fold since 2008, serving as the Therapy Supervisor and Assistant Director of the Residential Treatment Center for the first eight years of his career there.

Currently, as Training Coordinator, Mr. Brotheridge is tasked with providing trauma-informed training and consultation to the entire agency to ensure that all programs operate in a trauma sensitive manner. Mr. Brotheridge has also provided extensive trauma-informed trainings to various schools and agencies across the Central Illinois area. 

Prior to coming to The Baby Fold, Mr. Brotheridge spent 15 years as a therapist, clinical manager, and site director at Family Service of Northwest Ohio, where he worked extensively with children and families impacted by the trauma of domestic violence. He is also a founding board member of the Cocoon, a battered women’s shelter in Wood County, Ohio.

Mr. Brotheridge is a trained educator in Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI), a trauma model developed by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross at Texas Christian University. He is also trained as a Master Trainer of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Mr. Brotheridge attained his Master’s in Clinical Social Work from The Ohio State University and is trained in a variety of interventions including trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, Theraplay, and the aforementioned TBRI.

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Rev. Lori Bultemeier works as Christian Life Coordinator at The Baby Fold in Development and Public Relations. Lori has been with The Baby Fold since 1986.

She works with children, families, and staff of The Baby Fold to meet their spiritual needs and provide pastoral care, as well as partnering with churches in our conference. Lori’s specialty is faith development for all ages and preaching. Many of her sermon illustrations and lessons come from her beloved dogs. 

  • Degrees, licenses, and/or certifications:  Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Master’s degrees in Music Therapy and Special Education. Asbury Theological Seminary Biblical Studies, Ordained Deacon in The United Methodist Church
  • Specialties: Providing pastoral care and education to children and families, particularly those who have experienced trauma.
  • Trainings currently available: Growing in God- Faith Development through the Life Cycle, Trauma Informed Care- Information for Helping Professionals, Compassion Refuel- Exercises and Discussions that Lead to Greater Capacity to Teach and Guide Those with Special Needs

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Sue works as Supervising Teacher Therapist at The Baby Fold at Hammitt Junior-Senior High School.  Sue has been with The Baby Fold since 1990.

Sue began her career at The Baby Fold as a teacher therapist at Hammitt Elementary school and moved to the high school when it opened in 2002. She supervises the four traditional classrooms in the high school wing, consisting of 11 faculty and staff and up to 40 students with emotional/behavior difficulties and/or mental illness, through academics, social-emotional learning, vocational, and life skills. Sue’s specialties include consultation, behavior management, Conscious Discipline. Her hobbies and interests include children/families, reading and exercise.

  • Degrees, licenses, and/or certifications:  Master’s degrees in Special Education and Reading Education, Professional Educator License (Learning Behavior Specialist 1)
  • Specialties:  LD, SED, E/BD
  • Trainings currently available: Behavior Modification, Data Collection, READY

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Michaelle works as Clinical Supervisor at The Baby Fold in Family and Community Services.  Michaelle has been with The Baby Fold since 2013.

Michaelle is a clinical social worker and has worked solely for non-profit agencies within Illinois since 2004.  She started her career as a SASS Case Manager which quickly identified her love and commitment for children with complex social and emotional needs, and led her to pursue a more clinically driven career.  Michaelle began developing her skills and focused treatment in the mental health field and continued outpatient therapy working with children ages 3-18 years of age.   She was trained in child-centered play therapy and sand tray therapy.  This was paired with completing assessments on children in crisis.  Since 2013, Michaelle focused on services to children in adoptive or guardianship based placements in over twenty-two counties in central Illinois.  Through her work in this program, Michaelle has further expanded her clinical skills and interest, working predominately with children with complex trauma and attachment based difficulties.  Michaelle is trained in various therapeutic techniques; including Theraplay, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).  Michaelle is also a Practitioner of Trust Based Relational Intervention, and has provided this psychoeducation program to parents across central Illinois.

  • Degrees, licenses, and/or certifications: Master’s Degree in Social Work, Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI) Practitioner
  • Specialties: Sand tray, Bibliotherapy, Theraplay, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI)
  • Trainings currently available: Parenting Class, Teen Social Skills

  •  Degrees, licenses, and/or certifications: Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, Professional Educator License (Learning Behavior Specialist 1)
  • Specialties: Supervisory concerns including establishing connections with employees and skill development
  • Trainings currently available: Leading staff in Positive-based Programming, Shifting Mindsets to be More Trauma Informed

 

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Krista works as Family and Community Services Clinical Supervisor at The Baby Fold in Adoption Support and Preservation.  Krista has been with The Baby Fold since 2011.

Krista is a licensed clinical social worker and has worked solely for non-profit agencies within Illinois since 2005.  She started her career as a child welfare specialist, quickly identifying a passion for children with complex emotional needs, which led her to pursue a more clinically driven career.   Initially in her clinical career, Krista focused on children in early childhood (0-5 years of age) developing her skills in child-centered play therapy, expressive art therapy and sand tray therapy.  This was paired with completing assessments on children (3-18 years of age) in crisis.  Since 2011, Krista focused on services to children in adoptive or guardianship based placements in over twenty counties in central Illinois.  Through her work in this program, Krista has further expanded her clinical skills and interest, working predominately with children with complex trauma and attachment based difficulties. Krista is trained in various therapeutic techniques including Theraplay, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy.  Krista is also a Practitioner of Trust Based Relational Intervention, and has provided this psychoeducation program to parents across central Illinois. In 2019, Krista became a Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor through the national Association on Play Therapy, allowing her to not only practice play therapy but offer supervision to clinicians pursing their own licensure in play therapy.   

  • Degrees, licenses, and/or certifications: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work with a focus on mental health, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI) Trainer
  • Specialties: Theraplay, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Brain Paint Neurofeedback
  • Trainings currently available: Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI)

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Mark works as Family Therapist at The Baby Fold in Adoption Support and Preservation.  Mark has been with The Baby Fold since 2012.

Mark helps develop attachment between the child and parent for the purpose of improving the quality of life for the adopted child as well as the parents/families so that the child can reach his/her potential under God. Mark's hobbies include the rearing and breeding of tropical fish, namely African cichlids, one of the most beautiful fresh water species. 

  • Degrees, licenses, and/or certifications: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Master’s degree in Counseling, Licensed Professional Counselor, Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI) Practitioner  
  • Specialties: Attachment/ relational therapy, attachment regulation & competency, NTI, IM + CANS
  • Trainings currently available: Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI)

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Julie works as an Assistant Academic Director at The Baby Fold for Hammitt Schools.  Julie has been with The Baby Fold since 1996.

Collaboration with students, families, staff and community resources are critical to helping students and families at Hammitt Schools.  Julie utilizes trauma-informed practices and additional proactive strategies to develop positive relationships with students and families as she helps students move toward adulthood and being as independent as possible.  Julie’s areas of interest and hobbies include taking classes, spending time with her husband and kids, traveling, quilting, and reading. 

  • Degrees, licenses, and/or certifications: SSW, LCSW
  • Specialties: Supervision/positive relationships with your staff, social emotional assessment data
  • Trainings currently available: Staff Supervision, Social Emotional Assessment Data

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Ken works as Respite and Parent Support Coordinator at The Baby Fold in Adoption Support and Preservation. 

  • Degrees, licenses, and/or certifications: Bachelor’s degree in Bible/Theology and Psychology, Master’s Degree in Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling/Therapy, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI) Trainer
  • Specialties: Theraplay, Integrative Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC), Model Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI)
  • Trainings currently available: Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI)

Amanda Walters

Amanda works as the Post-Adoption Services Supervisor in Adoption Support and Training Services. Amanda has been with The Baby Fold since 2017.

Amanda spent four years in private practice before joining The Baby Fold as a Family Therapist. She now supervises other Family Therapists at the Urbana campus as they provide support for adoptive and guardianship families with a trauma-informed, attachment-based approach through individual and family therapy. Amanda helps in leading Trust-Based Relational Intervention Caregiver training, and also works directly with some adoptive parents, providing additional support and therapeutic interventions to support them in parenting. She is most interested in neuroscience and brain development, attachment, and healing developmental trauma, and especially enjoys EMDR and Integrative EMDR, and Theraplay.

  • Degrees, licenses, and/or certifications: Masters of Counseling, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, TBRI Practitioner, EMDR Trained, Theraplay Trained, trained in ARC
  • Specialties: EMDR, Theraplay, Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI)
  • Trainings currently available: Trust Based Relational Interventions (TBRI)

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