STAFF
Heather Dion, Executive Director
Heather came to Bend in 2017 from the Willamette Valley, where she spent several years working in nonprofit communication and fundraising. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Lewis and Clark College and an MBA from Portland State University. Heather is thrilled to work for CASA because she believes that community advocacy and action can give every child a safe and permanent home. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, kayaking, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Jill Bower, Operations Director
Jill is a graduate of OSU Cascades, with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences, specializing in Human Services. Jill has been with CASA of Central Oregon since September of 2013. She started as an intern and now serves as our Operations Director. Jill and her family moved to Redmond, Oregon in 2007. Jill has three children who keep her busy. In her free time, she loves to go camping, hiking, and spends as much time with her family as she can.
Megan Kantrim, Development Director
Megan joined CASA after several years of working in development, marketing and events for an international non profit. She is excited to bring her expertise to support CASA's vision that every child deserves to grow in a loving family. Megan learned about the importance of CASA when she was approved as a foster family in her previous county. She is a graduate of California Lutheran University with a Bachelor's degree in Communications. In her spare time, she enjoys chasing after her twins, riding horses, hiking, and exploring Central Oregon
Debbie Bircher, Program Director
Debbie graduated from OSU-Cascades with a degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with an emphasis on Human Services. She completed her CASA training in October of 2013 and was hired as a Program Coordinator in September 2014. Having spent a large portion of her own childhood in care, she understands the importance of having somebody whose sole purpose is to look out for the child’s best interests while they navigate the foster care system. She moved around a lot as a child – but made Central Oregon her home in 1994 when she fell in love with the area while on vacation. She is an avid outdoorswoman who prefers to spend as much time as possible with her family on a hiking trail or out on the water kayaking.
Jessica Mose, Program Coordinator
A native Oregonian, Jessica as spent the majority of her life living in the state. Jessica’s heart for children in foster care began as a teenager when she started babysitting foster children for a family in her neighborhood. As an adult, Jessica was a foster parent with MapleStar Oregon for 3 years, working mostly with youth involved in the Deschutes County Juvenile Justice system. She is a graduate of OSU Cascades with a degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with an emphasis on Human Services. After completing her internship with CASA and the Family Finding program in December 2015, Jessica began working as the Family Finding Coordinator and in 2021 became a CASA Program Coordinator. Jessica is glad to be part of a program that strives to help youth achieve relational permanency.
Meriah Williams, Program Coordinator
Meriah believes strongly in the CASA program and the work the advocates do to help children in foster care. Before joining staff as a program coordinator, Meriah served in both the advocate and peer coordinator roles since 2010. A Central Oregon native, Meriah grew up on her family's cattle ranch in Prineville. She enjoys many activities with her husband and two kids, including camping, rodeo, raising sheep and cows, and 4-H activities. She is a 4-H club leader and secretary of the local 4-H Leader's Association.
Alisha Zander, Program Coordinator
Alisha is a native Oregonian who received her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from OSU Cascades. Before joining the CASA staff as a Program Coordinator, she worked as a Program Manager for an in-patient residential treatment facility for adolescent girls here in Bend. Alisha is tremendously excited to be a part of the CASA team and to assist advocates in giving children a voice. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watching scary movies, and (depending on the season) cheering on the New England Patriots.
Heather Rogen, Program Coordinator
Heather has lived in Central Oregon almost 30 years. She was a ward of the state growing up and has had a passion for working with children and families her entire career. She has worked at Child Welfare, Head Start as a Director, Home visiting and providing parenting classes for families who were mandated by the courts. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and Parent Coaching. She has a passion for connecting children who have special needs to resources and advocating so they can prosper in school and life. She enjoys being a mother to her two teenagers, traveling and is an avid dog lover!
Kristina Florin, Training Coordinator
Kristina came to Bend from Wisconsin in 2016. She started as a CASA in 2017 and is honored to be a voice for kids in foster care. Kristina is a graduate of Minnesota State University Mankato with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Corrections. As Training Coordinator, she can pursue her passion of education and personal development. When she isn't at her desk, you'll find her coaching at Girls on the Run, training for some crazy distance of triathlon, or enjoying all that Central Oregon has to offer.
Angela Faulkner, Administrative Assistant
Angela is a graduate of San Francisco State University, with a bachelor's degree in Communications. Prior to joining CASA, she served as the Director of Opportunities Unlimited, assisting people with disabilities. As a Community Support Specialist for Innovative Services, Angela supported parents and their children in foster care with safe visitations. She enjoys volunteering at Family Access Network and with the Oregon Department of Veteran Affairs. You can find her running 5Ks or paddle boarding on the Deschutes.
Julie White, Family Find Coordinator
Julie came to Bend from Boise, Idaho in 2018. She is a graduate of the Univesity of Colorado, Boulder with a BA in Anthropology and the University of Montana, Missoula with a Masters in Social Work. She started as an advocate with CASA in 2019 and was very excited to be hired as the Family Find Coordinator in February, 2021. In her free time Julie enjoys traveling and spending time in Central Oregon hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing and skiing.
Staff head shots provided by Nicole Gee Photography.
Nicole provides creative, contemporary portraits for you, your business and your family. She is also a CASA volunteer.
Nicole provides creative, contemporary portraits for you, your business and your family. She is also a CASA volunteer.