Meet Our Team
Meet our team who drives change in the lives of the children and youth in our care.
Meet The Key Assets Ontario Team!
Cassandra Duignan
Provincial DirectorI joined the team in 2012 shortly after the establishment of Key Assets Ontario. Throughout my career at Key Assets, I have worked in various leadership capacities within the organization, which has led me to the role of Provincial Director as of July 2021. As a passionate, dynamic and equitable leader, I am committed to further fulfil our Purpose, “to achieve positive and lasting outcomes for children, families and communities”. As an organization, we are dedicated to support you and your family through your fostering journey. Whether this is your first time pursuing fostering, or you have been with us for a number of years; collaboratively as a team we will work together to ensure a meaningful and rewarding experience. Recognizing that people are at the heart of our work, we will ensure to listen, learn and collaborate with you in efforts to achieve positive outcomes for all!
Christy Murtha
Foster Care ManagerChristy is one of our Master Person Brain Trainers. The purpose of the Person Brain Training is to utilize what science has taught us about the brain to help not only the children and youth in our care, but also our Carers to feel safe, significant, respected, and related. Christy is also an ASIST Master Trainer. ASIST -Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training allows us to be able to respond to at risk human beings and create a suicide safer community.
Erin King
Foster Care ManagerErin has over 25 years of experience working in the Foster Care sector, Group Care, Adult Services, and Residential Programs in a leadership capacity as well as personal experience as a Foster Carer.
Dawn Brown
Business Support ManagerMy role is to help our staff with the day to day operations, finances and organisation of the company. With my support, the staff is able to stay focused on our youth and carer needs, I am always available to lend a helping hand and I am happy to support you any way I can.
Jennifer Nickel
Recruitment & Placement ManagerWe want everyone’s journey, from your initial enquiry about fostering for Key Assets, to approval as a foster parent, to be positive and exciting. I supervise the Recruitment & Placement team. The Recruitment team will respond to your very first contact with us, when you are beginning your journey to become a foster parent, and we will stay with you all the way through to our Journey to Foster training, and into the assessment phase. I will sign you on as a “foster parent” and welcome you to our Key Assets family! Once you are approved, I will ensure that the CAS is aware you are approved to foster, then the Placement Worker and myself will look at referrals and ensure we look for the best placement match for you and your family. We will be calling before you know it, to place a new young person in your home. I am always available to answer questions, so whether you are going through your foster home assessment or are an approved foster parent, please feel free to pass by and visit!
Susan Wagner
Fostering AdvisorIt’s my job to connect with everyone who inquires about fostering by phone, email or through our website. I will answer all of your questions about fostering and ask you a few questions as well to see if fostering is a good fit for you and your family.
Catherine Paynter
Assessment CoordinatorMy job is to make sure you are fully informed about fostering, Key Assets and what you can expect as a parent. One of the ways we do this is through our Journey to Foster training program. Over the course of the weekend, you will get to know us well and what fostering is all about. I’ll be your guide through the assessment process. Once you have completed your training and you have submitted your application, I’ll assign one of our qualified Independent Fostering Assessors to complete your home study assessment and will oversee the process until you become an approved foster parent.
Kathy Lowe
Placement WorkerOnce you’re approved, I will let the Children’s Aid Societies know you are available to foster and they will contact us to discuss possible children that would be a good match for your family. I know that matching is crucial to a successful placement so I will make sure to find out as much as we need to know about your family as well as the foster child so we know when the fit is right. I will then contact you and we can discuss the details of the child or children that we feel would match your family well. If you agree to a placement, I will let the Children’s Aid worker know and they will make the final decision to place the child in your care. There will be a lot of communication and I will keep you updated every step of the way. Once a placement is confirmed, I will work with the Children’s Aid Society to make the arrangements. You will then become an active foster parent congratulations! Of course that doesn’t mean your journey ends here it has only just begun.
Lolly Chin
Office Administrator / ReceptionistMy role is to maintain the switchboard and greet our carers and other guests as they enter the office. I also perform administrative functions for the office and service team. I will help you with any questions or concerns you may have or find the appropriate person that can.
Jabeen Choudhry
Recruitment AdministratorI’ll be in touch to invite you to our pre-service Journey to Foster training session. It’s my job to send you the date, time and location of the training as well as an application package. If you continue on with your journey to foster, we will work closely together during the assessment process to make sure all of the checks and references are complete and there are no delays in your approval.
Elaine Ash
TherapistThe children in our care have complex issues that often necessitate our parenting team’s (foster parents, child and youth workers and foster support workers) understanding of the impact of trauma and abuse, separation and loss and multiple moves on the lives, needs and behaviours of these kids. That’s where I come in. with over 30 years’ experience in children’s mental health, all members of the parenting team can consult with me about the children in our care, how best to meet their needs and how best to ensure the health and well-being of the foster child, foster parents and their families. I also provide agency wide training on a number of key issues and subjects to enhance the knowledge and experience of each member of the parenting team.
Laura Petrenko
Foster Care Reviewing OfficerAs Foster Care Reviewing Officer, I organize the annual review process for each carer, which is one of the ways we check in with our carers and make sure that they are getting the support they need and are able to provide the best care possible to their foster children. I support the team by making sure each carer stays up to date with training, records, and documentation. I collect feedback from the you and the Care Team to set goals for the next year in your fostering journey. Key Assets values you and all the wonderful work you do, and the annual review is your time to shine, reflect on how far you’ve come, and look ahead to the next steps!
Child & Youth Counsellors
Samantha Pinder
Child & Youth CounsellorHey, I’m Samantha! I graduated from Fleming College with an Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Care in 2017. Since then I have worked with young people in schools, homes, and community-based settings with a focus on mitigating the impacts of violence and marginalization. I began my work with Key Assets in September 2020 and have not looked back since!
I love working with Key Assets because it provides a unique opportunity to spend time with and learn from some amazing young people. I am passionate about providing support for youth in ways that are relevant, personalized, and focused on future successes.
Oneisha Saunders
Child & Youth CounsellorMy name is Oneisha Saunders. I graduated from Seneca College as a CYW. I have been a CYC at Key Assets for a year.
I love my role as a CYC because I have the chance to help children and youth reach their goals and transition into the wonderful individuals they would like to be.
Amanda-Lucia Puim
Child & Youth CounsellorAmanda has her degree in Child and Youth Care. Amanda has experience working with young people amongst various sectors using a strength-based approach to promote resilience.
Foster Support Workers
Kezia Allen
Foster Support Worker
Florine Ferreira
Foster Support WorkerI completed an undergrad degree in Child and Youth Work followed by a master’s degree in social work. I have a wide range of experiences from treatment centres, mental health units, counselling, and foster care. I have been with Key Assets since September 2019 in the role of a foster support worker.
I enjoy being able to connect with families of all ethical backgrounds, learning about culture and different parenting styles. Working with different agencies and watching the growth of a child and/or youth while being in care motivates me to continue providing the best support for the families I work alongside with.
Marli Senecal
Foster Support WorkerI have a Diploma from Humber College for Child and Youth Work, and have been working as a CYW for 6 years, and an FSW for just under a year. I am a trainer for a variety of topics at Key Assets, and have been working here for over 7 years.
I enjoy my role as an FSW as I am able to give support and guidance of working with young people which stems from my previous role as a CYW. I enjoy getting to know the foster families I work with as colleagues in taking care of our wonderful children and youth.
Abhirami Sellathurai
Foster Support Worker
Julia Tennant
Foster Support WorkerI completed am undergrad degree majoring in sociology, followed by completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. In between those degrees I also completed my Paralegal Certificate. I hold a wide range of experience in working with children, youth and Families particularly working with at risk youth and young children.
Prior to my coming to Key Assets, I worked in the Child Welfare Sector as a Child Protection worker. I have been with Key Assets Since April 2022 in the role of a Foster Support Worker and am so glad I joined the team!
Outside of my work hours I am on the coaching staff for the Western University Women’s Varsity Basketball Team as Assistant Coach. Playing and active role and being involved in my community is something that is very important to me.
What I enjoy best about my work as a Social Worker/Foster Support Work is that my role allows me to form connections with a variety of individuals and families, I love my work because providing me with both the opportunity and privilege to grow and learn through the young people and their carers and their different ways of knowing and seeing the world.
