Jeff Damron

Though born a Buckeye, Jeff has deep roots in Appalachia and finds its storied history, culture, people, and mountains a beautiful thing to behold. He’s quite certain everyone could benefit from story time on a front porch and a little Bluegrass pickin!

Jeff has served as a Co-Director of the Foster Parent Mentor Program since its statewide inception in 2000. For Jeff, Foster Care and Faith share, not just some common language, but a common commitment to focus on children, family, belonging, and well-being. He firmly believes this work was tailor made for him and will be forever grateful for the opportunity learn from Foster Parents and the resilience of its charges.

Prior to working at the Training Resource Center, Jeff served in professional church ministry (just over 17 years) as a Minister of Youth and Families. During that time, Jeff held many denominational state-wide positions of leadership, most of which focused on youth leadership development, fund raising, curriculum development, and service learning projects. While in Michigan, Jeff and family also served as respite providers for the local child services office.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Arts in Church Ministry from Warner Southern University, with a minor in Business, and has taken a myriad of graduate classes at Anderson School of Theology, Eastern Michigan University, and University of Kentucky. In addition to co-directing the Foster Parent Mentor Program, Jeff has also collaborated with Researchers in the areas of Fatherhood and Re-entry from Incarceration.

Jeff states that the greatest sound in the world is “Hey Dad”…and now “Hey Pops”.