Dr. Ashley Phelan is a foster care and adoption consultant with nearly 20 years of frontline experience in child welfare. She partners with community organizations and churches to develop sustainable, trauma-informed services and ministries that thoughtfully support vulnerable children and families.
As a former foster care and adoption social worker in Central California, Ashley understands both the systemic and deeply personal realities of this work. She brings practical tools, clinical insight, and ministry wisdom to every setting, equipping leaders to better understand trauma, attachment, grief and loss, and the lifelong journey of adoptees and families.
Ashley provides individualized coaching and counsel to all members of the adoption triad (birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees), helping each navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of the adoption experience. She also leads workshops, facilitates support groups, and consults with leadership teams to foster intentional, supportive environments for vulnerable children and families.
In addition to her consulting work, Ashley serves as Senior Manager of Engagement at CAFO, supporting students, members, and Summit leaders nationwide. She holds a Doctor of Ministry in Strategic Christian Ministry from Liberty University and a Master of Science in Christian Counseling from Cairn University, and she is a certified TBRI® Practitioner, MSOYW Facilitator, and SAFE-trained.
Ashley contracts through City Without Orphans, partnering with churches and community organizations to strengthen foster care and adoption efforts at both strategic and relational levels.
With nearly 20 years of experience in the child welfare space, Ashley brings both practical knowledge and lived experience to her teaching: serving conferences, colleges, churches, ministries, schools, and small groups with a heart to equip and encourage those walking in foster care and adoption spaces.
Possible topics include TBRI® (Trust-Based Relational Intervention), How to Talk to Your Kids About Adoption, What Is Trauma and Why Should I Care?, an Adoptee Q&A Panel, help for a child struggling with behavior, Adoption 101 & 201, Grief and Loss, Attachment 101, Kids & Teens and Technology, Transracial Adoption, and Openness in Adoption.
Fee: $100/hour
“This training was done extremely well. I do not think I could have asked for anything more. Working with Ashley has been amazing. She was accommodating, patient, energetic, gracious, and knowledgeable.”
Ministry Director
Families, churches, and organizations turn to Ashley for guidance navigating the complexities of foster care and adoption. With deep experience advocating for all members of the adoption triad (birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees), she helps clients find clarity, practical solutions, and confidence.
Fee: $60/hour
“Our family cannot say enough about the incredible help Ashley provided us during the legal guardianship process for our three nieces. She helped us by encouraging us, emotionally supported us, and prayed for us. Her knowledge of navigating the legal system was priceless, and she gave us the strength we needed to get through it all.”
Local Family
Ashley offers personalized consultation services for churches, organizations, and families seeking to strengthen their foster care and adoption ministries, programs, and relationships. As a certified TBRI® Practitioner and MSOYW® consultant, she provides guidance on creating safe, nurturing environments, developing sustainable support systems, addressing challenging behaviors, and coaching the full adoption triad.
Fee: $60/hour
“I confidently refer families to Ashley because she embodies the heart of TBRI in both knowledge and presence. Families feel seen, supported, and empowered under her care, and children respond to the safety and connection she so intentionally creates.”
Adoption Agency Professional
Ashley provides trauma-informed counsel and coaching for every member of the adoption triad, helping individuals and small groups navigate attachment, relational dynamics, and spiritual growth as they process their story and move forward with confidence and hope.
Fee: $60/hour (sliding scale available for adoptees)
“She once shared these words with me, which I wrote down so I would never forget: ‘You are going to fall. Just choose to fall forward instead of falling back. And those of us who are just a little bit ahead of you in our own journeys will let you fall forward, and we will catch your hand.’”
International Adoptee
As a trusted, respected Christian child welfare voice in the Valley, Ashley partners with churches to educate congregations about foster care and adoption: leading workshops, guiding families who feel called to foster or adopt, and helping congregations engage with and strengthen families in this journey.
Fee: Varies. We deeply value partnering with churches on the frontlines of this work.
“Ashley is a well-known expert in the world of adoption, foster care and trauma. Ashley expertly laid-out the landscape of orphan care, presented about the various needs, and provided practical next-steps. The event was a huge success and we couldn’t have done it without her!”
Local Church
Prospective adoptive and foster families often come to Ashley seeking guidance on how to get started. She meets with individuals, couples, or groups (including churches and small ministry teams) for a clear, step-by-step overview of the process, so families can take their first steps with clarity, encouragement, and faith-informed guidance.
Fee: Contact us for current pricing.
“Ashley has been an invaluable resource to us! Before we started our foster care journey, she was there to answer every question we had in great detail! She provides information in a way that makes you feel understood and confident in decisions in foster care and adoption.”
Prospective Adoptive Parents