OUR STORY
Safe Within 887 was birthed out of tragedy. When our founder became a foster parent in 2018 her first placement was an 8-week-old, Anthony, and his 3-year-old sister, Blessing. Although safe within a loving home for 887 days, adoption was denied and her children were forced into a court-ordered reunification with the woman who gave birth to them... the same woman who then killed Anthony shortly after his 4th birthday. As a result, we are compelled to challenge the laws that led to his murder and to shift the focus from "reunification at any cost" to that of the best interest of the child above anything else.
OUR TEAM
Each member of our leadership brings a unique perspective and background in child advocacy. Together, we have the experience and passion to make meaningful change to the foster care system that has failed countless vulnerable children and their true and rightful parents.
Kara Brown
Director
With over 15 years in child advocacy and non-profit leadership, Kara has served human trafficking victims, refugees, and foster youth aging out of the system. Her most significant role was mother for the two-and-a-half years spent raising her only children, Anthony and Blessing. Her educational background in business and international development, coupled with her own experience with the foster care system, has prepared and equipped her to challenge the failures that directly led to her son's death.
Advisory Board
Fallon Stapleton
Jeff Boyd
Sara Richardson
Fallon Stapleton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Boston University. While at BU, she worked in a residential facility as a counselor for children with a history of trauma and failed adoption and engaged in graduate research on corporal punishment and aggression in the parent-child relationship. She received her Master of Social Work from Boston College, where she focused her studies on the foster care system and both state and federal foster care legislation. She engaged in research on the challenges facing youth aging out of foster care, and how to prevent adoption disruption. As a clinician, she has worked for Youth Villages in the LifeSet program, assisting young adults as they aged out of foster care to build skills and prepare for independent living. She is passionate about serving blended and adoptive families and queer youth.
Passionate about social justice, Jeff has leveraged his professional experience over the past 25 years to contribute to social causes. He helped develop a home for street children in the Dominican Republic, and in 2004, assisted International Justice Mission (IJM) with an undercover investigation on sex trafficking of children, which resulted in the country’s first arrest and conviction for such crimes. As the Executive Director of the Hovde Foundation from 2009-2015, Jeff oversaw the construction and operation of seven group homes/shelters for vulnerable children in Africa and Latin America and led a dozen volunteer teams to those countries to help build homes. A graduate of Messiah College in International Business, Jeff also earned an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2003.
As a committed advocate and therapist, Sara brings her passion for the well-being of children and adolescents to the Safe Within team. For over 18 years, Sara has worked with children and adolescents from marginalized communities in both recreational and residential settings. She has spearhead initiatives for young people focused on foster care, substance abuse, gang prevention, grief, trauma, leadership development, and workforce training. In addition, Sara has a masters degree in marriage and family therapy and is a practicing therapist providing clinical support to adolescents, adults, and families.