Meet The Team

Sarah Andrade, LCSW (she, her, hers) joined RISE in November of 2022, to serve as the Executive Director of Family Services in Idaho. Andrade grew up in rural Idaho, graduating locally and going on to attend the College of Idaho on academic as well as competitive speech/debate scholarships. Spreading her coursework across several years, allowed her to maintain employment as a commercial fisherman in Alaska for several years. Her undergraduate studies were focused in Psychology, History and Education until graduating in 2006. Andrade went on to attend graduate school at Northwest Nazarene University, enrolling and completing dual programs in Clinical Social Work and Clinical Addiction Studies and graduating, summa cum laude, in 2014.

In her spare time, Andrade enjoys gardening, trying and failing at domestic arts/Pinterest, camping, wild mushroom hunting, reading and traveling with her family.

Takisha has a background in Communications/Public Relations. She graduated from Boise State University in 2020 with her Bachelor’s in Communications. She has worked a variety of different jobs including working as an Administrative Assistant with the State of New York and a Basketball Communication Assistant with the Charlotte Hornets. She enjoys meeting and working with new people.

In her free time, Takisha loves spending time with her three-year-old daughter Journee as well as her family. She loves barbequing, watching sports, and baking.

Brittany Pullen joined RISE in March of 2023 to serve as a Post Permanency Case Manager of Family Services in Idaho. Pullen grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and then later moved to Boise, Idaho when she was finishing high school. She continued her education by attending the College of Western Idaho and received her associate’s degree in Sociology in May 2019. Pullen then completed her undergraduate degree at Boise State University in 2022. She looks forward to becoming a licensed social worker in 2024.

In her spare time, Pullen enjoys spending quality time with her fiancé and French bulldog Penny, as well as her family and close friends. Pullen loves cooking, watching movies, sporting events and vacationing.

Sam Fuller started working in human services as a DSP in May of 2020 while completing his undergrad. He received his bachelor’s in marriage and family studies online through BYU-Idaho in September of 2021. A few days after graduation he started working for RISE as a Targeted Service Coordinator and quickly moved on to become the youngest Developmental Specialist in the State of Idaho. In January of 2022 he started working on his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Northwest Nazarene University. In June of 2023 he joined the RISE Family Services team to work as a Post Permanency Case Manager.

When Sam is not working, he enjoys reading, playing video games, watching YouTube, getting stuck on Reddit threads for hours, spending time with his girlfriend, and going on walks.

Kristina joined RISE in November of 2023 to support youth in the Independent Living (IL) program. She has previous case management experience, including working with youth and families experiencing foster care. She has also worked as an On-call Staff for crisis management, Behavior Interventionist, Support Staff at an In-patient Residential Facility, Preschool Teacher, and Family Resource Coordinator and as an Adoption Program Assistant.

Kristina grew up in Boise and has lived here most of her life. She did spend five years in Washington where she and her husband Jonah adopted their two children from foster care in 2013. She received her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) with a minor in Counseling, Education and Developmental Psychology and a certificate in Addiction Studies from Eastern Washington University in 2011, where she received the Jeffers Chertok Honored Student Award. In her spare time she enjoys snuggling her two hound dogs, spending time with friends and family, watching TV, visiting the beach and attending Dodger games.

Susan (Susie) Depew joined the Post Permanency staff at RISE in March of 2024 after working for Family Connections the last 13 years as a Visitation Supervisor for children in foster care, and before that as a Parent Education Coordinator at Idaho Parents Unlimited. She has been a licensed foster parent for many years and has a huge heart for children in the foster care system. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Boise State University focusing on Family Studies.

Susie has 5 grown children and at last count, 9 grandchildren. She teaches inclusive dance classes in the evenings and on Saturdays in her own studio and for the Community Education program in Boise. She enjoys gardening, swimming, watching movies, and absolutely loves to tap dance!

Amanda Herlo obtained her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Sociology from Northern Illinois University in 2011. Amanda has worked in the Child Welfare Division in multiple roles for six years, primarily as a case manager. Amanda joined the Rise Family Services in April 2024 as a Treatment Foster Care Coordinator.