MEET

Hillary Gaines

Hillary Gaines is a dedicated advocate with over 20 years of experience. She has a profound commitment to the well-being of children and families and leverages personal parenting experiences and her extensive work in mental health, juvenile justice, and foster care systems to support high-risk youth from diverse backgrounds. 

During her tenure at a mental health agency, Hillary designed and implemented a Youth Advocacy program, helping hundreds of kids and families. Now, she is bringing that valuable knowledge and expertise to her church, actively developing a program to meet the needs of today’s students.

As a survivor of domestic violence, Hillary brings resilience and empathy to her advocacy work. Her journey has shaped her into a fierce advocate for marginalized people, using human-centered design principles and her professional and lived experiences. This unique combination allows her to innovate and create systems that genuinely meet the diverse needs of individuals and families.

Hillary is not just a professional; she is a mother of three and a proud grandmother of seven. She and her husband Kevin have provided a loving home to 8 teenage boys over the past several years. They have shared their inspiring journey on two podcasts and were featured in the documentary “Jetro’s Journey,” shining a light on their unwavering support for foster youth.