About
Hi, my name is Mackenzie. Fostering Growth was founded with the belief that individuals who have previously or are currently experiencing the foster care system deserve access to services that will change the trajectory of their lives by providing therapeutic interventions to facilitate the achievement of developmental milestones and social-emotional attachment skills. Children and teens within the system are at a high risk for developmental delay, and Fostering Growth’s mission is to ensure that these children receive essential care to flourish and reach their full potential. I understand the challenges of this and have created a child-led environment for these individuals to thrive and obtain their milestones while fostering their ability to grow, learn, and play.
Fostering Growth provides services in-home, out in the community, and in daycares and preschools. These services are for individuals ages eighteen months to twenty-one years old, utilizing evidence-based practice techniques that promote holistic, child-led development and occupational participation while using a top-down approach to emphasize capabilities over challenges. Children of all diagnoses and ability levels are welcome here.
Meet the Founder
Fostering Growth, LLC’s founder, Dr. Mackenzie Kent, OTD, OTR/L, C-ASDCS graduated with her clinical Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy from Touro University Nevada. She obtained her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno. She displays extensive knowledge in pediatric development, trauma, foster care systems and processes, autism, and child-led learning. She earned her Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist certificate in 2024 and became an SOS Feeding Trained Therapist in 2025. Dr. Kent is Mental Health First-Aid certified through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and practices Trauma-Informed Care (TIC). She has presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s conference on the intersectionality of foster care and occupational therapy.
At Fostering Growth, Dr. Kent understands that there are many different layers of difficulties and unique experiences that come with experiencing foster care, and she is prepared to support and assist foster children in a trauma-informed way that recognizes their strengths while fostering areas needing growth.
In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys spending time reading, traveling, cooking, and baking.
“We had the privilege of welcoming Ms. Mackenzie into our home for biweekly OT sessions for my twins who we adopted through foster care. She immediately became like part of the family. She exudes joy, compassion, patience, kindness, silliness, and wisdom. She finds out what the kids like and incorporates that into the therapy. Over the course of a year we quickly saw our kids meeting their goals and it was a bittersweet day when they graduated. We are forever grateful for the impact Ms. Mackenzie made in our lives!”
