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Shelisa Foster, MA, LPC, NCC

Chief Operating Officer
Bergen's Promise
Hackensack, New Jersey

Shelisa Foster, MA, LPC, is Chief Operating Officer of the Bergen County Care Management Organization, Bergen’s Promise. In her role she manages the overall operations that each day offers unique, community-based services to over 1,600 families who have children with emotional, behavioral, developmental, and substance abuse needs. In 2015, Bergen’s Promise was the first program in New Jersey to implement a pediatric behavioral health home for youth with co-occurring chronic physical and mental health needs using Wraparound care coordination. In 2022 New Jersey Business Magazine presented Bergen’s Promise with the Awards for Excellence, “Outstanding Employer” for achievement in creative approaches that foster diversity, equity and inclusion and ongoing training, self-care, and wellness initiatives for employees, highlighting that Bergen’s Promise is committed to its employees and youth and families they serve alike.

Committed to raising awareness of the prevalence of mental illness in our communities and educating others that mental illness is a health issue, Shelisa served as a task force member for the Bergen County Stigma Free Initiative and as Vice-Chair of her hometown Stigma Free committee. Her passion for leadership and coaching has allowed her to serve as an advisory board member for Children’s Aid and Family Services “Strengthening Families” program and the Rainbow Cafe of Northern New Jersey; a support and social group for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQQIA) youth. Ms. Foster has been an invited speaker at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine on topics including “Recognizing and Responding with Stigma Free Support” and “Using a Wraparound Lens to View and Meet the Health Needs of Families”. In 2019, Ms. Foster co-authored the article entitled “Wrapping Around” Integrated Care featured in the Fall edition of Behavioral Health News. Ms. Foster is a proud recipient of the 2020 Courage and Compassion award for “Outstanding Leadership in Children’s Services” recognized by the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addictions Agencies.

Ms. Foster received her Master of Arts degree in clinical psychology from the Arizona School of Professional Psychology. In addition to her academic credentials, Ms. Foster is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Counselor, New Jersey certified Disaster Response and Crisis Counselor and a certified advanced trainer of the Nurtured Heart Approach ®. Most importantly, she is “Mom” to her phenomenal kiddos Alison and Matthew.

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