Our Mission
Connecting Hearts Foster Care Ministry exists to bring hope, healing, and the love of Christ to children and families impacted by foster care. Through compassionate support, meaningful relationships, practical resources, and community partnership, we are committed to creating safe and loving environments where every child feels valued, every family feels supported, and no one walks the journey alone. As the hands and feet of Jesus, we strive to strengthen families, restore hope, and inspire lasting change—one child, one family, and one community at a time. We serve Solano County—including Vacaville, Dixon, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vallejo, Benicia, and Rio Vista.
“So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
Matthew 18:14 ESV
About the Founders
Three women—bound by a shared calling—came together through their love for Jesus and a deep conviction that every child deserves a safe, nurturing home. Each has walked their own path into foster care, opening their hearts and home to children in crisis. Through sleepless nights, court dates, and countless goodbyes, they discovered both the heartbreak and the sacred beauty of fostering.
What began as individual acts of obedience grew into a collective vision. They saw families overwhelmed, children lacking resources, and foster parents without the support they desperately needed. Rather than turning away, they leaned in. Grounded in faith and guided by compassion, they committed to doing more than fostering children—their goal is to uplift the foster care community.
The founders of Connecting Hearts are dedicated to supporting families, advocating for vulnerable children, and equipping others to step into fostering with confidence and care. Their mission is simple but powerful: to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a system that often feels broken.
They have created a network of hope, offering resources, mentorship, and tangible support to those navigating a foster care journey. Their story is one of faith in action—of ordinary women saying “yes” to an extraordinary calling.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34 ESV
Chief Executive Officer
Tina Navarro
Tina Navarro is the Founder and CEO of Connecting Hearts Foster Care Ministry, a life-changing organization dedicated to nurturing and supporting children and families within the foster care system. The vision for the nonprofit was born from her own experience as a foster mother, where she faced isolation and recognized a critical lack of resources and community support for families navigating this complex journey. Driven by compassion and a deep sense of purpose, Tina set out to create a ministry where no family navigating the foster care system would feel alone.
Tina’s passion is deeply personal. Having grown up in an environment marked by dysfunction and chaos, she developed an early, firsthand understanding of the impact trauma can have on a child’s life. This lived experience, combined with her professional background, gives her a unique ability to connect with and advocate for children and families facing difficult circumstances.
Tina brings over 25 years of experience in leadership and law enforcement, retiring as a Supervising Correctional Counselor II with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Throughout her career, she developed extensive expertise in nonverbal communication, trauma-induced behavior, and effective communication strategies—skills that have proven invaluable in her role as a foster parent. Her ability to understand behavior, de-escalate difficult situations, and respond with insight and compassion has uniquely equipped her to care for children and families in challenging situations.
During her time in the criminal justice system, Tina worked closely with some of the most dangerous offenders. As she learned their histories, she discovered a common thread—many had experienced deep childhood trauma and abuse. This realization stirred a life-changing question: What if someone had intervened in their lives early on? That question, combined with her lifelong passion for children, became her calling. Motivated to be part of the solution, Tina partnered with Child Protective Services in 2018 and became a foster parent, committed to making a difference. That decision not only transformed her life but ultimately led to the founding of Connecting Hearts Foster Care Ministry in 2022. Under her leadership, the organization provides essential resources, education, and emotional support to families in the foster care system, ensuring they are never alone, encouraged, and equipped. Tina is also a passionate advocate for change within the foster care system, believing that strong community support and the love of Jesus can transform outcomes for children and families. Tina’s work is deeply rooted in her faith. She is guided by biblical principles and has experienced the miracle-working healing power of Jesus. She integrates these values into every aspect of the ministry, offering hope, restoration, and encouragement to the families she serves. With a strong passion for women and children, Tina envisions a future where every child has a safe, loving, and peaceful home. In her free time, she studies the effects of trauma and explores ways to restore the mind, body, and spirit—reflecting her belief that true healing happens through connection, compassion, and faith. Tina’s mission is more than a passion—it is a calling to transform lives, one child and family at a time.
Chief Managing Officer
Tiffany Lane
Tiffany Lane is one of the Co-Founders of Connecting Hearts Foster Care Ministry and brings both professional expertise and deeply personal experience to her work supporting foster youth and families.
As a Learning & Development professional at a large retail company, Tiffany is passionate about helping people grow, feel seen, and reach their full potential, values that naturally extend into her nonprofit work. She holds certifications in consulting and is trauma-informed certified, equipping her with the tools to thoughtfully support individuals and families with care, awareness, and sensitivity.
Over the past four years, Tiffany has opened her home as a foster mom to more than 30 children, creating a space rooted in stability, compassion, and belonging. Her firsthand experience navigating the foster care system fuels her commitment to building community-centered support for both children and caregivers.
Tiffany also completed three years of ministry school at a local non-denominational church, which continues to shape her faith-driven approach to service, connection, and care.
Her perspective is further enriched by global experiences, having traveled to over 20 countries for both cultural exploration and humanitarian work, and working as a brand ambassador in two different countries. These experiences have deepened her appreciation for diverse communities and strengthened her heart for service. Outside of her professional and nonprofit roles, Tiffany deeply values living close to family and staying connected to those who matter most, including her parents, sister, grandmother, and her four nieces and nephews. She is also a devoted dog lover and a proud homeowner in Solano County, where she continues to invest in strengthening her local community.
Chief Operating Officer
Mya Shubin
Mya Shubin is one of the Co-Founders of Connecting Hearts Foster Care Ministry. She brings both professional leadership and deep personal insight to her role as a board member of Connecting Hearts. Her work is grounded in a strong commitment to children and families, shaped by years of corporate supervision and hands-on experience as a foster parent.
With a strong foundation in leadership and a deep dedication to children and families, Mya brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her role as a board member of Connecting Hearts. After serving as a supervisor in a corporate setting, she developed valuable skills in communication, problem-solving, team leadership, and organizational management. These experiences now support her work in the nonprofit space, where she continues to grow as a self-employed professional, gaining new skills and perspectives that strengthen her impact.
For the past three years, Mya has been an active foster parent, welcoming multiple children into her home providing stability, care, and advocacy during critical times in their lives. This hands-on experience has shaped a deeply trauma-informed approach, grounded in empathy, patience, and understanding.
At Connecting Hearts, the mission is to support children and families impacted by foster care. Mya is especially passionate about this work, with a focus on bridging the gap between foster families and biological families. She believes that maintaining healthy connections can play a vital role in a child’s lifelong sense of identity, belonging, and stability. Driven by both heart and experience, Mya is dedicated to strengthening the foster care community and to help build systems of support that center around the needs of children while honoring the importance of family connections for each child.