How America’s Kids Belong Is Improving Foster Care Outcomes

We dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes of kids in foster care, so they find and thrive in safe, loving families, supported by Foster Friendly communities where they belong.

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Family Engagement + Community Engagement = Collective Impact

While not everyone in a community is able to foster or adopt, everyone has a valuable role to play in supporting the kids and families in foster care.

We’re tuning the hearts and minds of entire communities toward kids in foster care. Here’s a topline view of how we are driving collective impact across government leaders, child-welfare agencies, local businesses, faith communities and civic organizations. 

Foster Parent Recruitment

Governor’s Campaigns
I Belong Project
Faith Community Engagement 

Community Engagement

Foster Friendly App
Foster Friendly Businesses
Foster Friendly Faith Communities

We’re Passionate About Helping Communities See
The Unseen Child In Foster Care

We’re a gritty, grassroots band of warriors, passionate about fighting for vulnerable kids. Many of us grew up in foster care or as adoptees, or currently serve as kinship, adoptive and/or foster parents. So in many ways the battle is personal when it comes to ensuring kids in foster care are seen, heard and given the opportunity to experience a true sense of belonging…to a family, in a community and as a valuable member of the human family.

We take a child-centered approach to our work in service of our mission. We prioritize our activity and resources based on mission impact. We believe EQ and a strong moral compass are every bit as important as IQ to our ability to effect change.

Our Team

Senior Leadership Team

Todd Kinzle

Todd Kinzle

CEO

A successful startup entrepreneur with a bent toward technology and a passion for impact, Todd is bio, foster and adoptive dad to four daughters and a son.

Brian Mavis

Brian Mavis

President and Co-Founder

AKB co-founder, dad, former foster dad and pastor, world’s greatest “papa”, and husband to the beautiful Julie Mavis for 31 years. Enjoys good company, conversations, and cuisine.

Nanette Kirsch

Nanette Kirsch

VP, Marketing and Communications

Tech-driven marketer, writer, mom to four adoptive and bio kids, Nanette loves reading, writing and all forms of clear and compelling communication.

Phil Grizzle

Phil Grizzle

VP, Operations

A bio, foster and adoptive dad of four, Phil’s leadership focus is on sustainable change, excellence, and efficiency. He loves exploring new places, the outdoors and is continually in search of the perfect cup of coffee. 

I Belong Project™ Team

Lisel Atherton

Lisel Atherton

Child Welfare Specialist

A former child-welfare caseworker, Lisel helps ensure the safety and dignity of the kids filmed for IBP. She is a bio and foster mom to four busy sons.

Brian Edman I Belong Project Creative Director

Brian Edman

Creative Director

Brian leads video editing for the I Belong Project and enjoys using his talents to improve the outcomes of kids in foster care.

Operations

Laurie Zauche

Laurie Zauche

Senior Director, Operations

Laurie leads the Operations Team, which provides a strong foundation for organization so that we can fulfill our mission more effectively and efficiently. She is a wife, mom and licensed therapeutic respite care provider.

Leah Busboom

Leah Busboom

Operations Project Manager

Leah is a Salesforce administrator and operational lead on the Foster Friendly App. She also is a published author and committed advocate for vulnerable kids.

Amy Booth

Amy Booth

Operations Project Manager

Amy works behind-the-scenes in Operations managing donations and systems that support AKB’s team members, assisting them in improving the experience and changing the outcomes of kids in foster care.

Marty Hyde

Marty Hyde

Operations Project Manager

Marty manages special projects for IBP and the leadership team and provides support for AKB Operations. Her work allows our entire team more easily reach their goals and fulfill our mission. She has served on a local church’s WRAP team.

Marketing

Travis Vangsnes

Travis Vangsnes

Grant Writer and Storyteller

A bio, foster and adoptive dad, Travis meets with, honors and shares the stories of folks from all dimensions of AKB’s foster, adoption and Foster Friendly work.

Christina Bauer

Christina Bauer

Social Media Manager

A former foster youth and new mom, Tina draws from both experiences to ensure an authentic, knowledgeable and empathetic voice across AKB’s social media platforms.

Want to Join Our Growing Team?

We are a fast-growing, performance-driven nonprofit, working to accelerate our reach and impact nationwide. Our national team is fully remote; our state chapters and affiliates primarily work from home, although some have limited on-site work settings and teams go on-site for I Belong Project video shoots. 

Send us your resume and we’ll keep you posted as new opportunities become available. 

Email: jobs@amkidsbelong.org

Reporting and Documentation

Americas Kids Belong

Contact Us

America’s Kids Belong

1151 Eagle Dr., #464

Loveland, CO 80537