We’re looking forward to introducing you to Stacey Goodson. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Stacey, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day is pretty routine. My dog wakes me up to use the restroom and that is the first task of the day. From there, I brush my teeth, wash my face, and then stand on my vibration plate for 10 minutes. After that, I eat a protein bar and head to the gym. After I get a workout in, I come home and take my dog for her first walk of the day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Stacey Goodson, MS, is the Owner of Amoyan Training and Consulting, LLC, and the author of Triple Threat: Teenagers, Talking, and Trauma. With more than fourteen years of experience in child welfare, Stacey has dedicated her career to supporting vulnerable youth, strengthening families, and equipping professionals with the tools to navigate the complex realities of trauma and resilience.
Stacey began her professional journey by earning a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Juvenile Justice, followed by a Master’s degree in Human Services, with an emphasis in Family and Community Studies. Her academic foundation provided the framework for a career focused on the intersection of justice, family systems, and community well-being.
Beyond her professional credentials, Stacey brings unmatched personal experience to her work. She has opened her home to more than 50 children, primarily teenagers, through the foster care system. Of those, six joined her family permanently, deepening her perspective on the unique needs, challenges, and triumphs of children navigating instability, loss, and belonging. This lived experience has fueled her passion for creating training opportunities that bridge both research and real-world application.
Through Amoyan Training and Consulting, Stacey designs and delivers educational workshops for child welfare professionals, educators, foster and adoptive parents, and community leaders. Her training emphasizes trauma-informed practice, the importance of relationships, and the power of understanding “the story behind the behavior.” She believes that when adults are equipped with knowledge, compassion, and practical strategies, youth are more likely to find stability, healing, and hope.
In May 2023, Stacey was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, where she contributes her expertise and advocacy to policy discussions and statewide initiatives aimed at protecting children and strengthening families. Her role on the Task Force reflects her ongoing commitment to elevating the voices of youth and families impacted by systems of care.
Outside of her work in child welfare and training, Stacey is also known as “Coach Stacey.” As a longtime coach of multiple sports, including Varsity Track, college basketball, and semi-pro football, she invests in young people by building trust, discipline, and resilience on and off the field. For her, coaching is another avenue for mentorship and empowerment—reinforcing the belief that strong, positive relationships are essential for healing and growth.
Stacey’s work is rooted in the values behind her company’s name: Amoyan, meaning “a strong and powerful woman.” Her mission is to embody that strength while helping others uncover their own, particularly those working with and caring for children and youth who have faced trauma, homelessness, or instability.
When she is not training, advocating, or coaching, Stacey enjoys spending time with her puppy, reading, traveling, and enjoying the simple rhythms of life that restore balance and energy for the work she loves.
Through her combined professional expertise, lived experience, and unwavering commitment, Stacey Goodson continues to be a vital voice in the movement to support homeless, runaway, and system-involved youth—equipping communities with the skills and compassion necessary to ensure that every child has the opportunity to feel safe, seen, and valued.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
The bonds between people are often broken when there is a situation that happens which allows one of the persons in the relationship to feel like the trust between them is broken. What restores the bond is connection, relationship, consistency and honesty. Connection is imperative to repairing broken bonds.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
As a cancer survivor, the suffering I experienced while going through treatment taught me more than anything else ever could. It taught me that I am strong and I can survive anything that is thrown at me. It also taught me any even deeper empathy of others. One phone call can truly change our lives. Success could not have taught me this in the way sufferinf did.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say inclusivity and belonging, for all people, is something that really matters to me.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people will tell about me when I am gone is that I loved deeply and cared about others. I put my energy, my soul, and my life into caring for children and doing everything I could do to ensure they had the opportunities to be the best versions of themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amoyantrainingandconsulting.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-goodson-a71217139
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amoyantrainingandconsulting/
