Chief Operating Officer
Bergen's Promise, Inc.
Hackensack, New Jersey
Shelisa Foster is the Chief Operating Officer of Bergen's Promise, a Care Management Organization (CMO) operating within the New Jersey Children's System of Care. In her role, she oversees the overall operations that provide unique, community-based services to over 1,800 families daily, supporting children with emotional, behavioral, developmental, and substance use needs. During her tenure Bergen's Promise became the first program in New Jersey to implement a Pediatric Behavioral Health Home for youth utilizing wraparound care coordination.
Ms. Foster has been an invited speaker at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, presenting on topics such as recognizing and responding with stigma-free support, and using a wraparound lens to view and meet the needs of families. She co-authored the article "Wrapping Around Integrated Care," featured in Behavioral Health News. Shelisa also co-authored the poster “Strategies and Solutions to Workforce Shortages: Embracing Employee Health and Wellness presented at NatCon24 and at the 2025 Training Institutes hosted by the University of Connecticut School of Social Work.
She 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 Addiction Agencies.
Shelisa has served as a task force member for the Bergen County Stigma-Free Initiative and as Vice Chair of her hometown’s Stigma-Free Committee. She also served as an Advisory Board Member for Children’s Aid and Family Services’ Strengthening Families Program and The Rainbow Café of Northern New Jersey, a support and social group for LGBTQIA+ youth. Currently, she is Vice-Chair of the Human Services Advisory Council, which focuses on planning, advocacy, resource allocation, and program review to enhance the quality of human services for Bergen County residents.
Ms. Foster earned her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from the Arizona School of Professional Psychology. In addition to her academic credentials, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey and Colorado, and a Board-Certified Counselor. Her certifications include New Jersey Disaster Response and Crisis Counselor, Certified Mindfulness-Informed Professional, Mental Health and Nutrition Clinical Specialist, and Advanced Trainer of the Nurtured Heart Approach.
Poster 44 - Healthy Families, Stronger Systems: Advancing Wraparound Through Family Engagement
Monday, April 27, 2026
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM MDT