PHELPS COUNTY, MISSOURI
Every foster
youth deserves
Just One Yes
Bunches of Joy, Inc. is bridging the gap for 18–25 year olds aging out of foster care with their groundbreaking transitional housing and life-skills network.
$12,000
Grant Awarded by the Phelps County Commission and Phelps County Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Committee
OUR MISSION
To support individuals in transition by providing stability, structure, and practical tools that turn one opportunity into lasting progress.
200+
FOSTER CHILDREN IN PHELPS COUNTY ALONE
~10
AGE OUT INTO UNCERTAINTY EVERY YEAR
36
MONTHS OF COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT
And another 30-40 are still in high school, looking ahead to a drop-off most of us never had to face.
THE J.O.Y MODEL
We don't try to be everything.
We connect them to the best.
Just One Yes provides the housing, the stability, and the guidance — and then connects each resident to the established trade schools, job coaches, counselors, and local agencies already doing exceptional work in our region. It’s a model we believe is among the first of its kind in the country.
The 36-Month J.O.Y Journey
A guided journey from surviving to thriving.
Phase 1 · The Soft Landing
Referral & Move-In
Residents are referred by trusted local agencies and resources — school counselors, foster agencies, and the local organizations already serving our community. They move in shortly after high school, usually that summer.
Life Skills
The first summer is for exhaling. Balancing a checkbook, cooking a meal, navigating an appointment, holding a conversation. Getting out of survival mode and into living mode — so eventually, they can truly thrive.
Partner-Led Education
Residents enroll with our local trade schools and training programs — supported all the way by J.O.Y housing, mentorship, and a stable place to come home to every night.
Job Search & Independence
The final ~10 months: working with job coaches, building a résumé, lining up that first real role, and planning the move into permanent independent housing.
WHERE WE ARE
The Three Phases of Building
Everything has been happening so quickly. Here is what your donation makes possible, in order.
PHASE 01
Land Acquisition
We have identified a property as a potential future site for the Just One Yes program. Its location is being held close so it isn’t lost to another buyer.
PHASE 02
Tiny Home Construction
Building dignified tiny homes designed specifically for the privacy and stability transitional-age youth deserve.
PHASE 03
Grand Opening & Operations
Staffing the site, activating the wraparound services, and welcoming our first cohort of residents home.
We are not yet accepting student referrals — we’re still building the foundation that will make this program lasting and excellent.
CURRENT STATUS
Registered 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
All donations are tax-deductible
EARLY RECOGNITION
$12,000 Grant Awarded
Phelps County Commission and Phelps County Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Committee
ROOTED LOCALLY
Phelps County, Missouri
Built with local agencies and resources already serving this community
WHO WE ARE
The people behind Bunches of Joy
Local leaders who believe every young person deserves a stable place to call home.
Rebecca West - President
Rebecca brings 20+ years in education, social services, and community outreach, formerly leading large-scale initiatives at Missouri S&T. Her background with the Missouri Department of Social Services and Boys and Girls Town drives her passion for programs that expand opportunity for the next generation.
Shaun Ratcliff - Board Member
Shaun serves as President and CEO of Hope of the Ozarks and is a committed advocate for children through CASA, Good Dads, and his local church. His work centers on helping young people heal and become positive contributors to their communities.
Anita Agers-Brooks - Vice President
A certified personality trainer and Division of Children consultant, Anita brings both professional expertise and personal investment to her role — her grandson’s experience in foster care gives her a firsthand understanding of the gaps families face.
Tim Long - Secretary
With 11+ years of sustained recovery and leadership of Celebrate Recovery at his church, Tim brings hard-won resilience and entrepreneurial experience to the board’s focus on recovery support and foster care prevention.
Maria Bancroft - Treasurer
Maria is a seasoned business and finance professional with 18 years at Meramec Regional Planning Commission and a current role as a Commercial Loan Officer at FCNB Bank, bringing deep expertise in strategic planning and fiscal stewardship to the organization.
Brook Rogers - Voting Member
Formerly working in marketing at Phelps Health and active in the Rolla Rotary Club, Brook contributes communications expertise and community connection to help Bunches of Joy build visibility and partnerships across the region.
Nikki Seifert - Co-Executive Director
Nikki is a systems-minded leader with a background in corrections, crisis intervention, and workforce development, now directing Bunches of Joy’s structured transitional housing and employment initiatives to reduce recidivism and build lasting independence for people navigating major life transitions.
Cass Butler - Co-Executive Director
Cass brings extensive corrections experience at both state and county levels, currently serving as Supervisor of OCCS for Texas County, where her frontline knowledge of accountability, rehabilitation, and reentry directly shapes Bunches of Joy’s commitment to responsible, structured programming.
Rebecca West - President
Rebecca brings 20+ years in education, social services, and community outreach, formerly leading large-scale initiatives at Missouri S&T. Her background with the Missouri Department of Social Services and Boys and Girls Town drives her passion for programs that expand opportunity for the next generation.
Shaun Ratcliff - Board Member
Shaun serves as President and CEO of Hope of the Ozarks and is a committed advocate for children through CASA, Good Dads, and his local church. His work centers on helping young people heal and become positive contributors to their communities.
Anita Agers-Brooks - Vice President
A certified personality trainer and Division of Children consultant, Anita brings both professional expertise and personal investment to her role — her grandson’s experience in foster care gives her a firsthand understanding of the gaps families face.
Tim Long - Secretary
With 11+ years of sustained recovery and leadership of Celebrate Recovery at his church, Tim brings hard-won resilience and entrepreneurial experience to the board’s focus on recovery support and foster care prevention.
Maria Bancroft - Treasurer
Maria is a seasoned business and finance professional with 18 years at Meramec Regional Planning Commission and a current role as a Commercial Loan Officer at FCNB Bank, bringing deep expertise in strategic planning and fiscal stewardship to the organization.
Brook Rogers - Voting Member
Formerly working in marketing at Phelps Health and active in the Rolla Rotary Club, Brook contributes communications expertise and community connection to help Bunches of Joy build visibility and partnerships across the region.
Nikki Seifert - Co-Executive Director
Nikki is a systems-minded leader with a background in corrections, crisis intervention, and workforce development, now directing Bunches of Joy’s structured transitional housing and employment initiatives to reduce recidivism and build lasting independence for people navigating major life transitions.
Cass Butler - Co-Executive Director
Cass brings extensive corrections experience at both state and county levels, currently serving as Supervisor of OCCS for Texas County, where her frontline knowledge of accountability, rehabilitation, and reentry directly shapes Bunches of Joy’s commitment to responsible, structured programming.
Your yes builds the place where their yes begins.
Bunches of Joy is community-funded. Every gift moves us closer to opening the door for our first resident.