Kristine Hart is a nationally respected child-welfare leader whose career spans more than two decades of championing the rights, safety, and wellbeing of vulnerable youth. In 2004 she launched her first nonprofit, opening three therapeutic homes for girls ages 12–17 who had experienced severe trauma. Long before that, she had already established her still-thriving Holiday Program (2000), which brightens the season for roughly 1,000 children every year.

Recognizing a persistent regional gap in services for adolescent survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, Kristine founded a nonprofit and created two flagship STRTP facilities—These homes offer a trauma-informed, child-centered environment where girls ages 12–18 can reclaim their safety, rebuild self-worth, and grow into peer mentors for others on similar journeys. During the COVID-19 pandemic Kristine again responded to community needs by expanding the continuum of care to include transitional housing for young women ages 18–21, with a parallel program for young men following in 2021.

Kristine’s expertise is sought well beyond her own organization. She has served on the Santa Barbara County Human Trafficking Task Force and the Ventura County CSEC Collaborative (Interface Children & Family Services), and she has advised multiple agencies on opening licensed facilities for at-risk youth of all genders. Her board service includes Compass Ventura, advancing mental-health support  for LGBTQ+ youth. A former RFA foster parent, she and her family have welcomed approximately 20 foster youth into their home.

In recognition of her leadership and impact, the Junior League of Santa Barbara named Kris its 2017 Woman of the Year.

Kristine is the proud mother of two adult daughters and an adopted son, Jimmy, and the delighted grandmother of ten. She works side-by-side with her sister, Lorie, embodying their shared commitment to “be the change” in the lives of children.

Favorite quote:
“Do every act of your life as if it were your last.” — Marcus Aurelius