Lutheran Social Services of
Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
Foster Care Services Staff
Leadership Team
Please wait while we gather your results.
Allison Novak
Foster Care Services Supervisor - Eau Claire
Allison has worked with the foster care services program since 2012. She's been in the roles of case manager, licensor, and the supervisor for the Eau Claire office and has worked in the child welfare field for over more than eight years. What she loves most about her job is working with the awesome staff, the wonderful foster parents, and the amazing children in the foster care program.
"I absolutely love seeing children become successful and meet their goals with the help of our foster parents and staff." Jacki O’Flahrity
Foster Care Services Program Manager
Since 2010, Jacki has served in many different roles on the foster care services team: foster care case manager, licensor, supervisor and the program manager. Jacki’s family, including a son and daughter, enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, movies, and music, and she enjoys painting, and photography.
“I find and support foster families so every child has a sense of family, belonging, love and support.”
Kim Westfahl
LSS Director of Program Services
Kim has been the director of the Adoption, Foster Care Services, and Out of Home Care programs for LSS since 2014. She began her career in 1991 as a counselor at an LSS adolescent group home for those in need of protective services. Kim has a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“I have a passion for working with children and families and I’m proud to be a part of the foster care services team.”
Monica Hinkle
Foster Care Services Program Supervisor - Janesville, La Crosse and Appleton
Monica joined LSS in 2013. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UW-Platteville and a master’s of social work from Aurora University. In her spare time, she likes hanging out with her nephew, traveling, spending time with loved ones and watching baseball.
“What I love about LSS is watching the kids we work with accomplish their goals.”Level 5 Foster Care Services
608-752-7660 ext. 5140
Please wait while we gather your results.
Charlotte Kubista
Lead Social Worker, Level 5 Foster Care
Charlotte joined the LSS foster care services team in July of 2017 as the Lead Social Worker for the Level 5 Foster Care Program. She earned her degree in social work from UW-Eau Claire in 2013. Her passion is children and families and feels blessed to have the privilege to work with them and an amazing agency like LSS. When Charlotte is not at work she enjoys all things in nature and understanding the answers to questions like “Why is the sky blue?” Appleton
920-730-1343
Please wait while we gather your results.
Meghan Presing
Originally from the Washington DC area, Meghan joined the FCS team in April 2017. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Christopher Newport University in 2015 and a master’s degree in social work with a certificate in trauma-informed care from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2016. Meghan has experience in school-based mental health and working with families impacted by substance use disorders. In her free time, Meghan enjoys spending time outside, reading and cooking.
“My favorite part about working with foster families is getting to see the progress foster children make as they work towards their goals. It never ceases to amaze me how supportive all of our foster parents are of the children in their care.”Eau Claire Office
715-883-0992
Please wait while we gather your results.
Amber Prokopiak
Amber earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from UW-Stevens Point and a master’s degree in social work from UW-Milwaukee. She joined LSS in April 2017 as a case manager. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, 4-wheeling and spending time with her family.
“It is very rewarding to be a part of a team who ensures that children/youth are safe, happy and healthy.”
Ashley Stark
Foster Care Services Licensor
Originally from Webster, Wisconsin, Ashley graduated from UW-Stout in 2007 with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies and obtained her social work certification. She worked as a care manager for eight years, assisting individuals with physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities and the elderly in need of long-term support. She joined LSS in September 2016. During time off, she enjoys spending time with her husband, son and step-daughter.
"I really enjoy working with my co-workers, foster families and children."
Emma Lutzke
Foster Care Services Case Manager
Emma graduated from Luther College in 2007 with a degree in social work. She began her career with LSS, working with adults in a group home setting and has been with the foster care program since 2010. She likes to tell people she intends to be a lifer with LSS! Emma is fortunate to combine her career with her hobbies and enjoys taking senior photos for youth in care.
"I love the youth, the families and the staff I have the privilege of working with! I love seeing young people start to believe in themselves and realize how incredibly capable they are."
Lisa Hudson
Foster Care Services Licensor
Lisa is a foster care licensor in the Eau Claire Office. In her 15 years of working at LSS, she has worked as an in-home therapist and a foster care services case manager, licensor and supervisor. Lisa also works as a mental health professional in the Equine Psychotherapy Program at the Trinity Equestrian Center. She completed her education in social work at UW-Eau Claire and UW-Madison. She is an adoptive parent of three teenagers who teach her so much about parenting and life. Her hobbies include soccer, enjoying nature and scrapbooking.
“I am blessed to have two jobs I love and feel like I can make a difference for children and families."
Mary Kuhnert
Administrative Clerk
Mary has been with LSS since 2012 – initially as a volunteer working with senior citizens.
Her main job is to keep the client and foster home charts up-to-date and any other office work needed. Mary has many years of experience in the administration and bookkeeping business and calls that her passion.
“I have a wonderful team to work with. They make my job very enjoyable.”
Renee Berthiaume
Foster Care Services Case Manager
Renee graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in social work in 2007. She has been with the foster care program since 2014, after joining LSS in 2009. She enjoys teaching the Foundations class to new foster care parents and seeing the change and growth that foster parents and children go through
In Renee’s free time, she enjoys time with family fishing, cheering on the Badgers, Blugolds, Packers, and Brewers and cooking and baking.
“My philosophy in life and work is that an ounce of action beats a ton of words.” La Crosse Office
608-788-5090
Please wait while we gather your results.
Emily Gerke
Foster Care Services Licensor
Emily earned a bachelor’s degree in Addiction Studies from Viterbo University and obtained her Social Work Certification. She then joined LSS in June of 2017 as a Licensor in the La Crosse area. Emily is also currently working on her Master’s degree in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University. In her free time she enjoys working at a local group home facility for adolescents and being a part of a Cancer organization called Sunshine on the Trail in Bangor, WI.Janesville Office
608-752-7660
Please wait while we gather your results.
Amanda Schaefer
Foster Care Services Case Manager
Amanda graduated from George Williams College in 2015 with a master’s degree in clinical social work. Her passion is studying infant mental health/early childhood trauma, how it impacts neurodevelopment and adult mental health issues and how systems can better support new parents to prevent these issues.
Amanda has three children. When not at work, she home schools her oldest daughter, is involved in her church, makes greeting cards and continues her research on the neuroscience of early childhood trauma. She is also serves on the board of directors for Stateline Pregnancy Clinic in Beloit.
“I am very grateful to be able to work at LSS.”
Caitlin DeCremer
Foster Care Services Licensor
Caitlin earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from UW-Whitewater in 2012 and a master’s degree in social work from Aurora University in 2017. She joined the LSS foster care team after serving as an intern with the RAYS program. In her free time, Caitlin spends time with her fiancé and her Alaskan Malamute, Moose.