In 2018, Toni left the association to gain experience in field work, specifically working in child welfare. During her time in child welfare, Toni worked on several committees focused on staff training and retention, staff appreciation and embracing new technology for field work. During this time, Toni was dedicated to working with at-risk youth within Ohio’s foster care system to provide them with the skills they needed to be successful adults, while ensuring they were also able to access trauma-informed services. After working for four years in the field of child welfare, Toni realized that her calling was not in direct service work, but in bringing organizations and agencies together to make a systemic change for the betterment of the future and just communities.  

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In 2014, Toni obtained her bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Toni took the opportunity to return to higher education and earn her Master’s in Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, which she successfully completed in May of 2022, focusing on managing non-profit organizations and government agencies.

Moving forward, Toni hopes to use her voice as the association’s Coordinator to embrace the changes the association has been making over the last few years and collaborate with ICJA members to bring new and promising research and implementation methods to service providers.

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