Episode 18: Interview with Dana Lopez and Lisa Chrastina of Dogwood Ranch (Ozark, MO)

In this October 2026 episode, MSW intern Amaya Saintal interviews Dana Lopez, CEO of Dogwood Ranch, and Lisa Chrastina, Haven Care Coordinator of Dogwood Ranch. Set on 60 acres in rural Missouri, Dogwood Ranch serves teenage girls and young women who have aged out of foster care. Dana and Lisa explain why they chose Missouri, a high-need area with limited geographic access to support systems, and why exiting care at 18 often doesn’t serve young people well. They discuss how the ranch extends support to age 21 and helps residents build independence. Through a success story of a young mother who reunited with her daughter, they show how the ranch supports young women who arrive feeling defeated and guides them toward stability and success. Listeners will come away with a clearer picture of what specialized, rural, long-term support for youth aging out of foster care can look like.