Blog
ASCI Forward: Innovating and Shaping the Future of Care for Children and Families
At A Second Chance, Inc. (ASCI), our work is rooted in a powerful belief: children thrive when they remain connected to their families. As we celebrate more than 30 years of transforming lives through kinship care, we remain committed to lifting the voices of those who lead, innovate, and rally on behalf of the families we serve.
This month, we’re proud to highlight the dynamic leadership driving ASCI forward. These stories offer a closer look at how our program and operations leaders are shaping the future of child welfare—one strategy, one innovation, and one family at a time.
Three of ASCI’s senior leaders shared collective insights that reflect both the challenges of this work and the enduring hope that fuels it:
- Lindsey White, Chief Financial Officer
- Dr. James T. Freeman, Chief Program Officer
- Vonjana Knight, Chief Human Relations Officer
Each leader emphasizes that kinship care is more than a placement model. It’s a healing model. It acknowledges the inherent strength of families and the importance of preserving connection. Whether they are developing responsive programs, enhancing the operational systems that keep services running smoothly, or fostering a thriving and well-supported workforce, their efforts are deeply intertwined. What unites them is a powerful and shared belief: families in care deserve to be seen, supported, and respected throughout their entire journey. This belief drives every decision, every innovation, and every act of care at ASCI, forming the foundation of a system where children remain with those who know and love them most.
One leader who exemplifies this belief in action is Dr. Freeman. With a leadership style rooted in humility, he guides the agency’s programming to reflect the richness of the families ASCI serves. Through workforce development and strategic training, he ensures ASCI remains a trusted community partner.
We’re not just checking a box. We’re affirming the truth that families deserve care that reflects who they are.
Dr. James T. Freeman
As he looks to the future, Dr. Freeman is focused on cultivating emerging leaders and embedding learning into every layer of ASCI’s work.
Lindsey White drives operational excellence with a deep understanding that behind every financial process is a person. From streamlining caregiver payments to advancing technology infrastructure, her work ensures caregivers and staff are equipped to succeed.
My teams are always looking for smarter, faster, and more compassionate ways to serve families. For example, we moved to primarily electronic caregiver payments—families now get support the morning after processing instead of waiting for a check in the mail.
Lindsey White
Her focus is on ensuring ASCI remains adaptable and ready to evolve with compassion and purpose, anticipating the changing needs of the families and communities ASCI serves, while strengthening the internal systems, teams, and resources that make responsive, impactful care possible. She leads with both strategy and heart, believing that operational excellence and empathy must go hand in hand to create lasting change.
Vonjana Knight leads with the understanding that people are at the heart of everything we do. Her work in HR and internal communications has been critical to building a culture of trust, innovation, and care. She believes investing in employees is key to advancing the mission.
A thriving workforce leads to thriving families. When we support our people, we strengthen our ability to support our communities.
Vonjana Knight
From employee wellness to leadership development, Vonjana is preparing ASCI for a future where both staff and families can grow and thrive.
Across every conversation, one theme stood out: connection changes everything. These leaders remind us that policies and procedures are necessary, but they are not the whole story. What truly transforms lives is the love, vision, and integrity behind the work.
Together, these leaders represent the engine behind ASCI’s impact. Their cross-departmental collaboration, strategic foresight, and unwavering commitment to equity are shaping a stronger, more sustainable future for the agency and more importantly, for the children and families who depend on us.
While systems, policies, and procedures form the framework of child welfare, what transforms lives is connection. These leaders remind us that that family is sacred. They also offer powerful guidance for those who hope to follow in their footsteps. Whether you’re entering the child welfare space or rising into leadership, their advice serves as a compass for purpose-driven impact:
As we look ahead, ASCI remains committed to innovation grounded in humanity. Our mission continues to be fueled by the understanding that meaningful change in child welfare requires not just new ideas but deep compassion, humility, and unwavering support for those we serve. Our leadership team’s collaboration is one of our greatest strengths, allowing us to draw from different experiences, perspectives, and passions that collectively push our work forward.
Together, we will continue to champion kinship care, not just as a placement model, but as a powerful force for healing, restoration, and generational resilience. We continue to honor the unique stories of every family, uplift caregivers as vital partners in the journey, and redefine what’s possible in child welfare by centering dignity, connection, and hope. The future of ASCI is one of bold vision, collective impact, and an enduring belief in the strength of families.