Our Story
In 2008, Angels of Oklahoma City was founded by Jennifer Abney. Jennifer has worked with many children's programs through the Junior League of Houston, Junior League of San Diego and Junior League of Oklahoma City for the last 12 years. Jennifer has worked with the AIDS Foundation's Camp Hug, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Herman Hospital Critical Care Unit volunteer. Jennifer became a foster parent in San Diego through Angels in 2004. She and her husband adopted their Angel in 2006. With the support and mentoring of Angels FFN Founder Cathy Richman, Jennifer established Angels Foster Family Network OKC in 2008 to provide stable, loving, safe homes to the children of Oklahoma County. After becoming a foster parent in California, she saw first- hand, what a difference it can make in a child's life, to be loved and nurtured. The training classes and foster parent program reflect her knowledge of children in crisis, and what we can all do as foster families to heal these precious children and create a better life.
Jennifer Abney
Executive Director/Founder
Jennifer Abney has lived in Edmond with her husband David and their two daughters since December of 2007. After experiencing what a difference a great foster family can mean to a child in crisis, she has spent the last 2 years developing Angels Foster Family OKC to serve the children in Oklahoma County and create a foundation that will not just fix the problems the foster system has encountered, but to prevent the damages all together. She has incorporated every aspect of the original model of Angels in San Diego, and will use their 10 years of experience and research to better the way we care for our most precious angels in Oklahoma. Our goal is to form deep community involvement, volunteerism, and the very best foster homes available for infants and toddlers ages 0-3.
About the Original Angels Foster Family Network of San Diego
Founded in 1998, the Angels Foster Family Network is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, licensed foster family agency, specializing in placing infants and toddlers with exceptional families in the San Diego and Riverside Counties. The Angels mission is to rescue abused, abandoned, and neglected young children, match them with a select group of foster parents, and ensure the maximum emotional, social, and intellectual development of each child.CEO Cathy Richman founded Angels FFN in response to the foster-care crises she witnessed during her 5 years as volunteer in the San Diego County Juvenile Court.Drawing on her experiences as a child advocate and her research in child development,Cathy developed her own vision of a foster care agency staffed by professionals,affiliated with MSW-degreed social workers, and dedicated to placing needy babies with only the most carefully-screened, loving parents. The result was the Angels Foster Family Network.In 1999, Angels FFN placed its first baby, and since then has placed over 365 babies in loving homes throughout San Diego. Recognized as a leader in the movement toward better foster care, Angels FFN has been featured in the San Diego Sun, Fox6 News, and Channel 10 KGTV, which presented Angels Foster Family Network with its prestigious Leadership Award in 2001.In 2003, the Discovery Health Channel profiled Angels and two of its adoptive foster families in a nationwide 30-minute documentary. The response was overwhelming,and the "Angels method" became a new standard for child care advocates across the country.
- Visit the Angels San Diego website
Cathy Richman
Angels Founder
San Diego, California
Cathy Richman founded Angels in response to the foster-care crisis she witnessed during her five years as a volunteer in the San Diego County Juvenile Court. Drawing on her experiences as a child advocate and her research in child development, Cathy developed her own vision of a foster care agency staffed by professionals, affiliated with MSW-degreed social workers, and dedicated to placing needy babies with only the most carefully-screened, loving parents. The result was the Angels Foster Family Network.
About the Angels Foster Family Network of Santa Barbara
Founded in 2006 by Meichelle Arntz, Angels Foster Care of Santa Barbara is based on the acclaimed program established by the original Angels Foster Family Network of San Diego.
Meichelle became involved with the Santa Barbara child welfare services and courts through her work as a volunteer in the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program. After seeing the disappointing state of County foster care, she became determined to find a better program for local children and families.
Her research led her to the Angels Foster Family Network in San Diego. With the help and support of Angels FFN Founder Cathy Richman, Meichelle established Angels Foster Care of Santa Barbara in 2006 to provide stable, loving, safe homes to the children of Santa Barbara County.
- Visit the Angels Santa Barbara website
Meichelle Arntz, BSN RNC ACCE
Angels President
I live and own a business in Santa Barbara. I became familiar with child welfare services and the courts through my work as a volunteer in the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program. I was shocked to find that Santa Barbara County has nearly 600 children in foster care, and an extensive need for foster homes. I have seen first hand the frequent change of placement of our community foster children, overextended foster families, and small children in shelter care rather than with parents in homes.
I wanted to help and began my research. That is when I found Angels Foster Family Network in San Diego and became acquainted with Cathy Richman. Cathy has put in tremendous effort and support to help us get going in Santa Barbara. Thanks to her and her amazing program. The Angels program in Santa Barbara changes the lives of our littlest foster kids by offering stable, loving, safehomes as long as needed with no placement changes while in the foster system.In 2006, Angels of Santa Barbara, was founded by Meichelle Arntz. Meichelle got herstart as a CASA volunteer through the Santa Barbara Court System, and was determinedto find a better way to care for local children and their families.
Our goal would be to have an Angels in every city in America. We are all willing to share our knowledge and support to anyone who wants to make a difference for the children in their city.
Board of Directors
John Meyers
Chief Executive Officer
Stephanie Gray
Secretary
Tracy Jackson
Treasurer
Nanette Haag
Julie Lees MD
Lucas Trigler MD
Christin Mugg Adkins
Advisory Board
Jennifer Abney
Founder/Director
Cathy Richman
Deborah Shropshire MD
