About Our Staff

Grant A. Van Vranken, Executive Director

Grant has been the Executive Director since March 4, 2019. Prior to that he was a Child Protection Specialist for the State of Montana for 5 years. After 8+ years of honorable service in the United States Air Force, Grant attended the University of Great Falls, now University of Providence, for three and a half years, graduating magna cum laude with B.A.s in Secondary Education and History.

Grant has a passion for helping foster children, especially since he was one for over 2,000 days. He entered foster care in Rockford, Illinois in December 1984 and was adopted in Chicago in July 1990. He entered foster care as part of a sibling group of four that was eventually split up and adopted in separate homes. In summer 1987, a Peoria TV station recorded the sibling group to broadcast to the greater Chicago area for potential placement options. Here is that video.

One of the things Grant loves about the Receiving Home is its unique ability to house sibling groups.

Lori Nelson, Program Manager

Lori started at the Receiving Home July 4, 1985. When hired, she worked one week on, one week off, with her family living in the Home with her. The current office was the staff bedroom, and the toddler room was the staff’s kid’s bedroom. Lori and her family continued this way for 7 years, during the last year they lived in the Receiving Home for 7 months straight. Due to staffing issues, and changes in licensing standards, GFCRH changed to shift work. In the early days of the new shift arrangements, one staff was still allowed to sleep in the Home, while the other shift member was awake and working.

Lori’s tenure at GFCRH spans generations of families that have had children come through the Home. She has had to step into the Administrator/Executive Director role on more than one occasion. Lori jokes often that she never grew up and got a real job, but she is proud of the fact she has had a positive impact on the lives of thousands of children from around the state over 40 years. We are thankful for her many and continued years of service!

Caitlyn Korin, Staff Manager

Caitlyn has worked for GFCRH since May 2005. She started as an assistant Tutor, later transitioning into a House Parent, then being promoted to Shift Supervisor and then finally to the Staff Manager Position. She wears many hats, including overseeing the USDA School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program, scheduler and Admin. Caitlyn is also in charge of donations and our Christmas Giving Tree program.

Caitlyn is extremely good at working with our teen residents. She understands the hard balance between being a foster parent-like figure, mentor, and confidant. Caitlyn was the last staff member to have her children at the Home with her during shift work. Prior to 2019, as a holdover from when staff lived in the Home with their children, staff had been able to bring their children to work with them, recognizing that the staff-to-child ratio was affected by their children as well.

Vallarie Castro, Staff Supervisor

Vallarie has been with GFCRH for over 5 years. Her specialty is braiding and doing the children’s hair. She likes to do activities with the kids as well. She has been the Staff Supervisor since early 2025. Vallarie jokes that she will be here as long as Lori or longer, so she only has 34.5 years to go!

House Parents

Between our House Parents alone, we have over 50 years of working at GFCRH. We are fortunate that when certain people come work for us, they just never leave- because this is truly a calling. Our House Parents care deeply for the children entrusted to our care. They not only cook, clean and help the children with getting bathed, ready for bed/school etc., but they hold the children when they hurt and/or cry. We’ve had children live with us for over 3.5 years, and it is impossible not to love these kids. Sometimes GFCRH staff are truly the first kind, loving people these kids have spent time around. We’ve had staff attend the adoption of a former resident too. We always like to hear success stories!