Executive Director & Child Forensic Interview Specialist
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Jana serves as the Executive Director and Child Forensic Interview Specialist and is a graduate of Faulkner University where she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Sciences and from Auburn University Montgomery where she obtained a Master of Science degree in Psychology. She has worked in the victim services field since 2002 and was instrumental in establishing the child advocacy center (CAC) in Chilton County. Jana has served as the Executive Director of Butterfly Bridge CAC since its inception in 2012. In addition to her duties as the executive director, she also provides forensic interviews for children and adolescents in Chilton County in case of alleged abuse. Jana first began work in the child advocacy center field in Montgomery, Alabama in 2004. In her time working in the field, she has conducted thousands of forensic interviews, counseled hundreds of abused children, helped train hundreds of new forensic interviewers, and testified as an expert in criminal court over 50 times. Jana loves working with the local community and gaining support to sustain the services to the children and families in the service area. She and her husband Scott live in Clanton and enjoy boating, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Assistant Director & Child Forensic Interview Specialist

Emily has worked in the child advocacy center field since 2006 and brings tons of experience to Butterfly Bridge CAC from her many years working in victim services. Emily has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Auburn University and a Masters of Education in Counseling from Auburn University Montgomery. She began working as a Forensic Interviewer and Therapist at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Montgomery in 2006 and provided leadership in establishing the child advocacy center satellite offices in Elmore and Autauga counties in 2016. She joined the Butterfly Bridge CAC team in 2017 and serves as the Assistant Director and Child Forensic Interview Specialist. Emily primarily serves in our Autauga and Elmore county satellite offices where she conducts most of the forensic interviews in cases of alleged physical or sexual abuse. In her time working in the field, she has interviewed thousands of children in reported cases of abuse, counseled hundreds, and provided expert testimony in criminal court. She lives in Prattville and serves as an Ambassador with the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce and attends First Baptist Church in Prattville. She is married to Matt and they have two daughters. Emily is a huge Auburn fan, enjoys running, spending time with her family, and being involved in her community.

Events & Development Coordinator, Community Outreach Advocate

Brittani began working with Butterfly Bridge as volunteer in 2015 and quickly became very passionate about the mission of the center. She served as a board member for one year and is now enjoying her new role as the Events and Development Coordinator. She attended Troy and graduated from Huntingdon College with a Bachelors degree in Business Management. Brittani and her husband Ryan, a native of Chilton County, have two children. They enjoy spending time with family and staying active in the community.

Therapist & Forensic Interviewer

Katie serves as a therapist and forensic interviewer. Her heart for children who have experienced trauma began with her internships with Department of Human Resources and several foster care placement agencies. Her passion for childhood trauma only grew when she interned at Owens House, Shelby County’s Children’s Advocacy Center. It was through this internship where she realized that working in a CAC was where she was meant to be. She completed both her Bachelor of Human Development and Family Science and Master of Social Work from Samford University. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who is Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TFCBT) certified and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and hosting trivia.

Therapist & Forensic Interviewer

Ashley is an Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC) in our Chilton County office and holds a Master of Science in Counseling from Faulkner University. Ashley is TF-CBT Certified and has completed numerous hours of training in the areas of trauma, attachment, and play therapy. Ashley is a licensed foster parent and leads our Foster Parent Support Group in Clanton. Ashley has a heart for those impacted by trauma and finds joy in championing hope and bright futures for those young people who are victimized or impacted by difficult situations. She and her husband, Chris, live in Clanton and have five children.

Lead Family Advocate

Ashton serves as our Family Advocate and MDT Coordinator at our office in Chilton County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and Family Life Education from Samford University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Alabama. She is currently working to become a licensed master social worker. Ashton was first introduced to Butterfly Bridge during her time at Samford and returned as a graduate student to intern at the agency. She was thrilled to begin her work as part of the Butterfly Bridge staff in July 2021 as the Family Advocate. She is passionate about meeting victims and their families where they are and helping them navigate their experiences as they heal from trauma by being a constant source of support for them. Ashton enjoys spending time with her husband, her dogs, and engaging in creative endeavors.

Program Support Advocate/MDT Coordinator

Anna graduated from the University of Montevallo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She has worked with children and families in different capacities throughout her time in college and after graduating. She is excited to be a part of a team who is fighting for those who need an advocate. She has a heart for people and is passionate about seeing children and families heal, working past their traumas. Anna is married to her husband, Trea, and together they have two young children. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, thrift shopping, and coffee.

Therapist

Courtney graduated from the University of Montevallo where she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology and her Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. While completing her M.Ed., Courtney held a job at Central Alabama Wellness working with children and adolescents. There, she gained knowledge in case management and In-Home therapy services. Her passion and desire for working with this population only grew as she completed her internship at Butterly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center. Courtney has a strong belief in utilizing a holistic approach to therapy as she incorporates the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model. She believes that gaining insight into the different areas in one's life and how they are connected will generate awareness of the individual’s needs. Courtney draws from modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and child-centered play therapy (CCPT). She has also completed training in and utilizes Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Courtney is currently working to become an Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC) and aims to become registered in play therapy. Courtney’s goal here at BBCAC is to provide a safe space for children and adolescents impacted by trauma. Courtney strives to empower, validate, and assist in the healing of this population. In her free time, Courtney enjoys spending time with her fiancé and dog children, hunting, shopping, and traveling.

Therapist

Kodi is a licensed master social worker in Alabama, Arkansas, and Kansas. Hailing from the MSW graduate program at University of Oklahoma, she brings her passion for providing mental health services to children and families. Before becoming a therapist and fierce advocate, she served in the child welfare sector for 7 years. This experience serves as the foundation of her individualized client-centered approach and commitment to providing a therapeutic environment where children and teens feel protected, nurtured, and validated. Kodi is a nationally certified therapist in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Treatment, with a specialized focus on children and adolescents who have experienced physical and/or sexual trauma. Kodi has previous experience providing therapy services in a CAC setting and brings with her skills in expressive therapies such as art, and sand tray to her practice. Kodi is thrilled to be able to continue to work within community systems and supporting families through navigation of complex systems and processes. Kodi believes that Butterfly Bridge CAC aligns perfectly with her dedication to therapeutic services and child abuse response and prevention

Family Advocate & Multi-Disciplinary Team Coordinator

Alicia serves as our Family Advocate and Multi-disciplinary Team Coordinator at our Elmore County office. She has a Bachelor of Science in Counseling and a Master of Science in Counseling from Faulkner University. During her graduate internship, she got the opportunity to work with Butterfly Bridge and was grateful to be able to help victims and their families. She is dedicated to making a positive impact through advocacy for children. Alicia enjoys spending time with her two children, her family, and friends.

Family Advocate & Multi-Disciplinary Team Coordinator

Casey’s journey with Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center began as an intern at the Autauga County office. A dedicated student at Faulkner University, Casey is completing her Bachelor of Science in Forensic Psychology, blending her academic focus with her deep commitment to helping others. With 11 years of experience as a law enforcement officer and time served as a school resource officer, Casey discovered her passion for supporting children and families. She felt compelled to take her impact further, dedicating herself to advocacy work to offer survivors and their loved ones guidance as they navigate through life after trauma. For Casey, advocacy provides an improved quality of healing for survivors and their families.

Tonya and Fitz serve Butterfly Bridge through Office of Prosecution Service's HERO program, funded by a grant reward through ADECA. Fitz is a service trained facility dog, trained by Canine Companions and placed to work with Tonya in August of 2019. Fitz utilizes his commands to mitigate the stress and anxiety a child may experience as a result from their trauma. Fitz works with the children during Forensic Interviews and Therapy sessions at Butterfly Bridge. If criminal charges are filed, Fitz accompanies the child to any court proceeding the child is required to attend and he is able to sit at the child's feet if the child is required to testify during any court proceeding.

Tamara and Yahini serve Butterfly Bridge through the Office of Prosecution Service's HERO program. The HERO (Help, Empower, Restore, Overcome) program is funded through a federal grant awarded by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). Yahini was expertly trained by Canine Companions and placed with Tamara in May 2021. Yahini can perform over 40 commands designed to motivate and inspire the clients she works with. If criminal charges are filed, Yahini can accompany the client to any court proceeding that is required and sit quietly at the child's feet. A well-mannered and highly trained facility dog encourages feelings of calm and security for clients.

Medical Director

Kathleen is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who has worked at Wetumpka Pediatrics since 2019. She received her Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of South Alabama with a primary focus in pediatrics and education. Kathleen also is the president and founder of Ivy’s Closet, a clothing/supply closet for children in foster care or DHR custody. She started with Butterfly Bridge on the Blue Ribbon Ambassador Group and is happy to move to the position of Medical Director. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Matthew, and they have 4 children. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, watching the kids at various sporting events and crafting.

Kelly Taunton is a certified public accountant with a BS degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama. She worked in the public accounting field for 8 years and now works contract with two non-profits as their bookkeeper. Currently, she also provides bookkeeping services to the Alabama Network of Children’s Advocacy Center (ANCAC).