Crystal
McKiernan
Director of Programs
Crystal is the Love Our Kids Director. Love Our Kids seeks to inspire and mobilize the community to help meet the needs of foster children and their families by working with county social workers to identify specific ways in which we can support these children. In this role, Crystal champions the voices of children in foster care, doing all she can to ensure every child has the support of a loving family. As a foster and adoptive mother herself, Crystal believes every child deserves to feel safe, valuable, and loved.
Crystal grew up in the Modesto area, graduated from Stanislaus State, and then worked for Valley Mountain Regional Center helping coordinate services for children and young adults with special needs.
She is married to her high school sweetheart, TJ, and together they have four children. Even as a little girl, Crystal remembers wanting to help those around her. Now as a parent, having walked the road of foster care and adoption, the Love Our Kids Director position combines her desire to help others with the passion she has for children in the foster care system.
During her time off, Crystal loves enjoying a great cup of coffee, exploring the great outdoors with her family, and designing and organizing home spaces.
What is your role at Love Stanislaus County?
I serve as the Love Our Kids Director. In this role, I work directly with Stanislaus County Child Welfare social workers to identify the specific needs of foster children and their families. It is then my job to go out into our community and inspire people to help meet these needs. I also spend time educating the community on foster care and adoption.
What do you love the most about your job?
As an adoptive parent myself, this work is something I'm very passionate about! I've experienced first hand the impact this work has on the lives of these children. I will never tire of reading the stories about how Love Our Kids has helped comfort kids during incredibly difficult situations, support social workers as step into really hard places, and inspire community members to take action to see and care for some of the most vulnerable in our community.
What do you love most about living in Stanislaus County?
Hands down it's the people. We have some of the most generous people living in this area. I see it all the time. The way they generously step up to help those they will never meet. Both in my professional and personal life I have made relationships with people who have impacted me in amazing ways.
In what ways do you participate in the community?
I am a member of One Church. I attend church at the Modesto campus with my family. I serve on both the worship team as well as the welcome team. I have also been involved in the foster care and adoptive community in this area. I have made many connections through serving on the Board of Directors for Family Connections Christian Adoptions as well as serving foster and adoptive mamas at Revive events.