Trainers

Senta Burton has been a trainer for the Butte Foster Kinship Education Program for over 8 years. Senta’s 25 years of experience includes working with child welfare, juvenile probation, private and court-mandated adoptions, addiction and domestic violence programs. Senta holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Drug and Alcohol Studies from Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a concentration in mental health at California State University, Chico with an eagerly anticipated graduation date of May 17, 2018. Senta is the mother of six children, four of which were adopted through the child welfare system. Senta’s passion for training and advocacy stem from her own desire to assure that caregivers are provided the information that was not readily available to her as a foster parent of children who experienced trauma. Participants of Senta’s training have expressed an appreciation for Senta’s open, down-to- earth, humorous, non-judgmental, nurturing approach.

Joyce grew up in San Francisco, and moved to Butte County 40 years ago. In 2020 Joyce moved to Yuba County, to live next to her daughter and her daughter's family. Adopted as a child, with many foster children in and out of her home of origin, a mother of three and for several years while her birth children were young, a foster mother of 2 boys from Mexico, a grandmother of Eight and great grandmother of Two. A community member who believes healthy communities come from knowing and communicating with each other. A Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor and Domestic Violence Counselor, who has worked for 30 years in the local Native American Communities in varying positions. A trainer to community members and professionals throughout the nation in areas of cultural diversity, proficiency and humility, historical trauma and its effects on certain populations, and facilitating Gathering of Native American trainings since 1998. The latter 3 to 4 day training brings communities together for a better, prosperous future. As the Trainer Coordinator for Connecting Circles of Care, she worked with several populations of focus for 7 years. Those local populations were the African American, Latina/o American, Native American, Asian American and Rural Mountain populations, This experience gave Joyce the ability to learn and participate in varying local populations celebrations. She feels that facilitating this training is important for the foster parents, birth parents and most importantly the children and is honored to present it.

Marin Hambley is the Advocacy & Education Coordinator for Stonewall Alliance of Chico, a LGBTQ+ community resource center in Butte County. In their role for Stonewall, they travel across Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Plumas, Tehama, Shasta, and Trinity Counties to support organizations in creating more gender-inclusive spaces, and to support LGBTQ+ community members in accessing the resources they need. Outside of their role at Stonewall, they work with Safe Space Winter Shelter as an Shelter Operations Manager, with Northern Valley Harm Reduction Coalition as Board Chair, and facilitate workshops on crisis de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction.

Stephanie is a first-generation college graduate. She currently holds a Master of Public Administration from CSU, Chico. She has been employed at Butte College for over 13 years. Stephanie recently took over as Program Coordinator of the Butte College Foster Kinship Care & Education Program. In her previous positions as Program Coordinator of Safe Place & Wellness Program and Butte College's Title IX Coordinator, she was responsible for the prompt and equitable response to disclosures/reports alleging sexual harassment and discrimination on campus. Stephanie has also had the honor and privilege of working with the local Native American community as a Domestic Violence Advocate. Prior to this role, Stephanie worked closely with foster youth as an Independent Living Program (ILP) case manager, working with youth ages 16-21. Stephanie has three wonderful sons that she adores and two amazing grandbabies. She says, 'being with them is like watching your heart walk around outside your body.”

Meka Klungtvet-Morano has been a social worker in the community for over 20 years. She has experience working within child welfare, as well as with individuals, youth, and families. She also works educating and training social workers. Meka has been a part of the Chico State School of Social Work faculty since 2006, and with Butte College Foster/Kinship Care Education Program since 2021. As a social worker and educator, Meka is grateful for the privilege of being able to build relationships with new people, learn their stories, and provide support as people learn and grow and discover. She sees learning from others as a gift for which she is forever grateful.