Meet Our Founders

Darren and Stacey Gagnon are passionate advocates for children in the areas of special needs, adoption, and foster care. They both have degrees in education and have a combined 25 years in the classroom. Stacey is also a licensed RN and has mostly worked in public health and pediatric mental health. They have committed their lives to bringing an informed voice to raise awareness, training, and support for children in crisis and to those charged with their care.

Stacey Gagnon is the creator and Director of Trauma Lens Care where she provides training on trauma, substance abuse, and ACEs in schools, jails, and public forums. Embodying their beliefs, Darren and Stacey are the parents of 7 children, 5 of which are adopted. They have also fostered for over 12 years. Their critical work has resulted in the co-founding of Lost Sparrows, Inc., a 501(c)(3) with the goal of ending the flow of children into orphanages in Eastern Europe. Lost Sparrows provides education and training to social service officials, government administration, and caregivers working with children in orphanages and foster care.

Their unique backgrounds, experiences, and heart for children and families give them incredible testimony. Stacey has shared many of her challenges and emotions through her blog: Ransom for Israel. She began the blog after bringing home their son from Bulgaria, to encourage other foster and adoptive families. One of her blog posts went viral which led to Darren and Stacey being invited onto the Today show with Megyn Kelly. This eventually led them to write a children’s book titled Cowboy Joel and the Wild Wild West.

The book is designed to help parents teach their children about kids that look different or have disabilities.