About
The Alliance for Thriving Families began with a simple belief:
children and families thrive when communities work together.
That belief wasn't born in a boardroom. It grew from lived experience, conversations across our county, and a shared desire to build a stronger future for families in Kosciusko County.
A Community That Showed Up
For Executive Director Kearstin Criswell, the vision for the Alliance began long before the organization itself.
As a child growing up in a small Indiana town, Kearstin experienced both deep hardship and extraordinary community support. After the loss of both of her parents by the age of seventeen, teachers, churches, neighbors, and community members stepped in to help care for Kearstin and her sisters.
There wasn't one organization responsible for helping them or one program that solved every challenge.
Instead, an entire community worked together providing rides, opening their dinner tables, encouraging them at school, creating opportunities, and ensuring they never had to navigate life alone.
That experience planted a lasting belief: Communities are strongest when people work together around the needs of children and families.
Listening to Our Community
Years later, that same belief resurfaced through conversations happening across Kosciusko County.
In 2023, four local church leaders participated in a More Than Enough cohort through the Christian Alliance for Orphans, exploring how churches could work together to better support vulnerable children and families.
This revealed a common theme. Everyone cared. Resources already existed.
But too often, organizations were working independently instead of collaboratively.
Schools, churches, nonprofits, and community partners all identified the same opportunity: our community didn't need more people who cared—it needed stronger coordination between the people already serving families.
The Alliance Was Born
Out of those conversations, the Alliance for Thriving Families was established as a collaborative network dedicated to strengthening the local community relationships. Today, our local schools, churches, nonprofits, businesses, and community leaders work together to meet needs.
Rather than creating another direct-service organization, the Alliance helps existing organizations work together more effectively, by finding where help is missing and filling the gaps, building trusted relationships, and coordinating support so families can find help before challenges become crises. Because when communities are connected, families are stronger.
Board Members
Mike Deuel
Mike is the Director of Post Production at DreamOn Studios, a StoryBrand Agency focused on helping organizations connect with audiences through the power of storytelling. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Mike spent 25 years in video production for the NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL. A former foster parent and current CASA volunteer, he is passionate about advocating for children and families. Mike’s favorite role is being a girl dad, and he loves spending time with his wife and daughters. When he's not creating videos, you'll find him playing drums or hanging out with his beloved French Bulldogs.
Andrea Nishimoto
Andrea Nishimoto is the owner of Forage Ahead, a local plant and flower shop rooted in her love for nature, creativity, and community. Before opening the shop, she supported children and families through the Department of Child Services, CASA, and Hands of Hope, and her experience as a former foster parent deepened her belief in the power of community collaboration. Andrea is grateful to serve on the board and continue supporting local families alongside her husband and son, Asher.
Mandy Bailey
For more than 20 years, Mandy has dedicated her career to strengthening children and families through education, mental health, and community collaboration. Her experience includes over 20 years as a teacher and mental health counselor with Warsaw Community Schools, two years as a mental health therapist with Hambright & Associates, and the past eight years coordinating the Strengthening Families Program for Inspire Indiana. Mandy is passionate about meeting families where they are, identifying barriers to success, and working alongside them to create lasting solutions. She believes that when communities collaborate to address emerging needs, every child and family has the opportunity to thrive.
Steve Harper
God has uniquely gifted Steve as a pastor. His development for ministry took an unusual but fulfilling journey, including 32 years in law enforcement that would teach and mold his heart for people – seeing them as those with no hope and needing Jesus. His passion is to reach people for Jesus and to assist the church in being highly effective in building His Kingdom. His heart for vulnerable children and families was developed during his time in law enforcement seeing the devastation of families who had no safety net in times of trouble.
Erin Jones
Erin Jones is a lifelong Warsaw native who apparently took the scenic route back home. She spent her college and law-school years in Bloomington, Boston, and Lansing, eventually graduating magna cum laude from Michigan State College of Law and returning to Warsaw, where she has practiced law for the past 20 years. As a child, Erin wanted to grow up to be an art teacher. She became a lawyer instead - which makes more sense considering she was frequently in trouble for talking in class. Over the years, she has worked in both the for-profit and nonprofit worlds, but these days she much prefers making art and candles, obsessing over perfume (buying it, wearing it, and, most importantly, smelling it), and finding reasons to bring up Indiana University Football, especially to her husband, an avid Ohio State University fan. When she’s not cheering for the Hoosiers or sniffing perfume, Erin enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time on the lake with Jerrad. They have one daughter, Sidney, 22, who now lives in Ohio—meaning Erin has somehow managed to send both her daughter and her husband into enemy territory. Erin is excited to be on the Alliance for Thriving Families Board of Directors to see the difference the organization makes to the vulnerable children and families of our community.
John Peyton
John and his wife have been married for 30 years and are the parents of five children. He leads worship at Branches Vineyard Church, where he also serves as a founding member and board member. Professionally, John brings a depth of experience in leadership, quality systems, and organizational development. After serving four years as a U.S. Army Medical Service Corps officer (honorably discharged as Captain), he spent 15 years in medical device quality—most recently as Vice President of Global Design Assurance and Post-Market Surveillance for a top orthopedic company. He later founded and exited a software company and currently serves as Chief Customer Officer of Hugentic.
