Shelby Russell-Hays’s personal history with adoption sparked an interest in a career in Social Services from an early age. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Pepperdine University in 2010, she immediately began working for a private child placing agency in Pierce County as a Foster Care Case Manager. In this position, Shelby provided direct support to Children’s Administration (now DCYF), children in out-of-home care, and their Caregivers.

A few years later, Shelby became employed with Children’s Administration in Pierce County as a Placement Coordinator; eventually transferring to the Vancouver office in Clark County in the same position. In Fall 2018, Shelby accepted her current position at the Alliance with a focus on serving the Caregiving Community through educational support.

Shelby’s passion for this work is rooted in ensuring safe spaces for children in out-of-home care; although, she believes that a true sense of safety includes cultivating an inner feeling of safety within each child. Because this process can be long and complex, Shelby and her team strive to empower those who care for these remarkable children by equipping them with the knowledge and tools that create connection and promote healing. She is grateful to work alongside others at the Alliance who share in her passion and inspire her, every day, to stay curious!

Sharon Colomb - scolomb@uw.edu

Sherry Colomb is a Development and Facilitation Specialist working with the Caregiver Training Team. With a background in Elderly/Disabled Adult case management, Sherry’s interest in child welfare began with her decision to become foster parent in 2005. Training and support were essential in her personal journey as a foster and adoptive parent, and she now feels privileged to be able to support other caregivers in this way.

Sherry finds one of the most rewarding parts of her job to be the opportunity to share her passion for seeing families reunify, and watching caregivers catch the vision for the unique and powerful role they can play in this process.

With deep respect for the value of our caregiver’s time, Sherry strives to make the caregiver courses the Alliance develops and presents meaningful, engaging and easily utilized in the in- home environment.

In 2021 Sherry became a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) ® Practitioner and is excited to be able to share TBRI Principles with the caregivers of Washington State.