- Staff Biographies -

Katie joined the Youth Connections' staff in June of 2008, just after finishing her Master's in Social Work Degree from the IU School of Social Work in Indianapolis. She has a BA in Telecommunications and a Liberal Arts Management Certificate from IU Bloomington.

Katie spent two years serving in the Peace Corps as a high school English teacher in Romania after she graduated from IU-Bloomington and still enjoys traveling in the U.S. and overseas.

Prior to joining the Youth Connections staff, Katie interned with the Department of Child Services in their Indianapolis central office and in the advocacy program at the Indianapolis Children's Bureau. Katie is enjoying learning more each day about Johnson County and Morgan County communities.

Christine was born and raised in Johnson County and received a joint BS in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration from the University of Indianapolis. Christine spent four years in the United States Air Force as an operating room technician and has also worked as a Webmaster for the Indiana National Guard and in restaurant management for eight years.

Christine started working at Youth Connections two years ago as the Office Assistant.  She is now the Family Programs Director and responsible for handling the Families in Transition, Custody Evaluations, and Children Visitation Center programs.  Christine is a wife and proud mother of three sons and three step-sons.

In October 2008, Keri Lyn Powers joined the Youth Connections staff as the Youth Programs Director, working with Safe/Place, Host Homes, YPIJC, and the Jumpstart Mentoring Program.  Keri Lyn graduated in 1996 from IUPUI with a BA in Public Health and Health Administration.  Before coming to Youth Connections she worked as a Probation Officer in Johnson County for 10 years.  She has had a vast amount of experience working with youth in the community especially youth in the detention center.  She is also a graduate of the 1997 Leadership Johnson County class and served for 10 years on the Boys and Girls Club Board of Trustees. 

Keri Lyn is very excited to work at Youth Connections and looks forward to working more with the prevention side of Youth Programs.  Keri Lyn lives in Bargersville with her husband, step daughter and three dogs.  

In September of 2008 Youth Connections welcomed Kristi Tucker as the Safe Place/Host Homes Coordinator. Kristi received a Bachelors degree in Public Relations from Ball State in 2007.  Before coming to Youth Connections Kristi worked as a Marketing Coordinator at a Real Estate Agent. 

What attracted Kristi to Youth Connections is getting to work with youth in need, and hopefully making a difference in their lives.  She is very excited to work with these two programs and contribute to their continued growth.

Elyse grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio before moving to Indianapolis after college. She attened the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in International Business. Elyse has worked with youth for many years, primarily through YMCA summer camps as well as one summer working with children in India.

Elyse enjoys travel, the outdoors, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.

Whitney, a Martinsville, Indiana native and resident is the newest member of the Youth Connections staff.  Whitney graduated from IUPUI-Indiana University's School of Education in 2008 with a B.S. in Elementary Educatio.  She has worked previously as an Instructional Aide for High-Achieving/High Ability students and a substitute teacher in the Martinsville School District.

Whitney, a wife, and mother to five-month-old son, Gavin, is eager and excited to develop programming in Morgan County.

Since Youth Connections' start in 1976, it has hosted interns from associates, undergraduate and graduate programs-including IUPUI, Franklin College and Ivy Tech. Some of the interns have been from the AmeriCorps program which has been on Franklin College's campus since 2006.

Dez, a Franklin College student is the newest Youth Connections Intern.  A Public Relations/Journalism and Pan-African Studies major, Dez hopes to further develop communications for Youth Connections and publicize events crucial to Youth Connections.

Bridget is a Franklin College student.

Dustin is a Franklin College student.