Meet The Team
Cynthia Rials
Executive Director & Founder
I am originally from Crystal Springs, MS. I moved to Jackson, MS when I was 5, graduated from Central High School and have been back in Copiah County for 55 years.
I founded Raising Forever Homes along with Sally Badalucco because of my twin non-verbal autistic grandsons. They have aged out of the school system and like so many special need adults, need a forever home. I have a deep passion to help as many people who are mentally and physically disabled to have a good, safe and happy home where they will be cared for the rest of their lives.
Wendi Graves
Vice- President, Asst. Administrator,
Program Director
I have worked in education for 32 years as an elementary school teacher, special education teacher, and as an instructor at Delta State University. I taught inclusion, special education foundations, and classroom management at the college level. Also, I taught reading and Penn Foster High School at Mississippi Job Corps.
I have a passion for teaching, especially special needs students and adults.
I have served as an advocate for families that were not getting the care for
their children, and fought to ensure they received that care. I believe that
everyone is put on this earth and everyone has gifts to offer this world. I
strive to enrich the lives of all people. I believe that this is my gift.
I have a Specialist Degree in Special Education. I would not have pursued
this if I was not extremely passionate for this community. I still hold dearly in
my heart the desire to enrich the lives and help people with special needs
meet their full potential and enjoy life. This is why I have dedicated my time
to Raising Forever Homes. I believe in this cause because all adults need
to experience freedom and choices.
Ashley Hahn
Graphic Designer & Director
I graduated in graphic design from Hinds Community College in 2019. I helped design for the school, too. With my creativity and 'out of the box thinking', I believe I can make a difference in my community and out in the world. That is why I am helping the cause with autism and being able to spread smiles and awareness through my work. Since I have a cousin with autism, I understand the importance of this association and can not wait to see what God has in plan for us.
Robin Davis
Director
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I am a lifetime resident of the Hoodtown community in Copiah county, Mississippi.
I have been married to the love of my life, Randy Davis, for over 25 years. I am employed at Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance and a small business owner of Robin Davis Designs.
I have earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Business
Administration from Mississippi College.
I am a caregiver to my mother, Audrey, and brother, Thomas Hood. Thomas is mentally
delayed and requires a full-time caregiver. He is the light of my life and they have a special bond that is normally displayed in them clowning around like children with each other. The need for facilities like Raising Forever Homes is crucial for individuals like Thomas and so many others in Mississippi to be able to live semi-independently with a full-time care giver and to ,also, live a fulfilled life with purpose.
Julia Smith
Secretary
I have been a Copiah County native for 23 years now and I have been a board member for Raising Forever Homes since 2022.
I graduated from Copiah Academy and later went on to Blue Mountain College where I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. I became a board member because I have autistic twin brothers that I love dearly and am working so hard to get back home. I want to get them into an environment where they are safe, loved, and we know that they are being taken care of.
Joseph Clark
Director
I have been a Madison county native for 24 years now. I have been a board member for Raising Forever Homes since 2023.
I graduated from Germantown High school and later went on to Hinds Community College where I obtained an Associate’s degree in Electrical Technology.
Carolyn Coley
Director
I am a lifetime resident of the Dentville community in Copiah County, MS. I am the proud mother of four children - Lance, Dusty, Kimberlee and Matthew. I worked as an executive assistant for Entergy Nuclear for 35 years. I attended Copiah Lincoln Jr College and obtained my licensed practical nurse degree and have previously worked in various facilities in Copiah and Hinds counties, as well as, worked with special needs children in their homes over the past 18 years. I spend my time now as full-time caregiver for my special needs son, Matthew. My children Dusty and Matthew were born with a chromosomal defect - Fragile X syndrome. I know first hand the need for a facility like Raising Forever Homes is much needed in our area.
Tammy Carraway
Administrator, Program Director
I have spent my career working in a variety of settings with children and adults with learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. As a Speech Pathologist, I began my career working with individuals in the clinical and medical setting prior to advancing in public education as a Special Education Director with Copiah County School District. As an administrator, I was given the opportunity to work with parents, professionals and the community to develop learning opportunities and experiences for students with special needs. When not at work, I am very involved with my family, church, and community. Being involved with Raising Forever Homes is an amazing opportunity for me to use my experiences to help create resources and opportunities for adults with special needs and to assure their families that their loved ones are in an environment designed to protect them and optimize their quality of life.
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Sally Badalucco
Director
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My name is Sally Badalucco, I am a cofounder and board of director for Raising Forever Homes. I have been associated with Raising Forever Homes since 2022. Cynthia Rials and I founded this organization due to the fact that there is limited housing available for people with special needs that have aged out of the school system and their families are not able to take care of them.
Raising Forever Homes is a vital organization for so many families in Mississippi including myself. I know first hand why there is such a huge need for this organization because I have twin sons that are autistic. I myself, am not able to give them the round the clock care that they would need, I just need help, but with Raising Forever Homes, I would get the help that I need. With this organization, I would be able to see my boys everyday and make sure that their lives are the best that they could possibly be along with anyone else’s child or family member that would be apart of this organization. Raising Forever Homes is not only a place for them to live, but it is also a life for them to have where they may not actually have a life right now, but with this organization we would want to provide a fun fulfilling life for them!
Doug Smith
President of the Board
My name is Doug Smith, President of the board for Raising Forever Homes. I am 100 percent committed to this AWESOME project because I have twin non-verbal adult autistic sons.Raising Forever Homes will be providing a need that the state of Mississippi has failed to provide for adults with disabilities. I am a life-long resident of Copiah County, Mississippi. Mostly in the Dentville community where I grew up and just recently moved back to. I have been employed with the same company for the last 28 years in Gallman, Mississippi. I attended college at Co-Lin and later Mississippi State University. Neither of which gave me an education on what my life would entail, raising twin autistic sons.
There is not a cure for Autism, treatments, not cures, but just because people with special needs may not be able to speak or perform like most of us does not mean they do not understand. My sons can understand and learn, but their brains process differently than the majority of people.
Unfortunately, as we age we wonder who will care for our children if we pass away. Well, that is why I fully support Raising Forever Homes. This option will ensure my sons and other adults with mental disabilities will have the best care available. Our staff will monitor and enrich their lives. Unfortunately, there are not many facilities to care for them in the state of Mississippi, and the waiting list for the existing facilities in Central Mississippi is anywhere from 10 to 15 years. This is not acceptable. My passion is to ensure that all adults in our area live the best life possible. I want each person in our care to be happy and healthy.
I have spent my entire existence as a father trying to find a cure for my sons or in the very least, a means to understand how they think and feel. It is a shame that there are so many so-called cures out there that prey on a parent’s HOPE of a cure. All of which are targeting families with children who have disabilities because they know EVERY family will pay their last dime in hopes to help their children. This is false hope. Raising Forever Homes is NOT false hope, rather a means for adults with mental disabilities to live a life as normal as possible with care-givers to cater to their ongoing needs.