Favorite Bible Verse: 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
Favorite Adoption Story: I worked with a family who has adopted a total of 8 children and I had the joy of working with them for their 7th and 8th adoptions. For their 6th adoption, they were blessed to adopt a toddler who was terminal. After her passing, they felt a calling to adopt more children with special needs. For their 7th and 8th adoptions, they were blessed to adopt two children diagnosed with down’s syndrome and other medical needs. They are incredible parents to those children and provide them with amazing love and care. I so enjoyed witnessing their heart for children with special needs and their desire to “start over” when they would otherwise be empty nesters.
Education: BSW and MSW, both from University of South Carolina
Responsibilities: As Social Services Manager, I will be supervising our foster care program and home studies.
Favorite Bible Verse: Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14
Favorite Adoption Story: While interning at the Methodist Home for Children, we had an emergency placement of two young boys under the age of 3, just three days before Christmas. They were scared, neglected, and in dire need of affection. My heart was breaking for these boys and the staff and I did everything possible to make their Christmas a joyful one. By the grace of God through many prayers, both boys were placed with a family wanting to adopt them on Christmas Eve! It truly was a magical Christmas for everyone involved.
Education: Obtained a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia, along with a Masters in Education from Mercer University
Responsibilities: Helps families prepare for adoption by completing their home study and post adoption reports
Favorite Bible Verse: Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Favorite Adoption Story: Less than a year after starting with Nightlight, I received a phone call from an expectant mom who wanted to make an adoption plan for her unborn child. On my way to meet with her for the first time, she called to notify me she was in labor and heading to the hospital. I am not typically in the delivery room, but this sweet expectant mom asked for my support and she was a trooper throughout her entire delivery. Each hospital experience is unique and special, but this one is especially dear to my heart as I watched this little one enter the world! It is an experience that is rare for me, and I have a special relationship with everyone involved with this precious adoption story!
Education: Chelsea holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia, in addition to a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences with a major in Human Development and Family Science.
Responsibilities: Conducting home visits in order to provide home studies, Snowflakes family evaluations, and post-adoption reports
Favorite Bible Verse: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus Philippians 4:6-7
Favorite Adoption Story: I was notified that a mother was near death and did not have a plan for her 5 young children. Having been hospitalized for several weeks; her children were known to the nursing staff. One of the mother’s nurses happened to be in the room while I was meeting with the mother to develop a plan for her children as no family members were able to take the children long term. Locating a family for a sibling group of 5 and to do it in the limited time the mother had left to live was going to be a daunting task. The following day, the nurse who was in the room contacted me stating that she went home and discussed the situation with her husband, and they decided that they wanted to provide a forever home for these children. The mother, children, nurse, and her husband were able to develop a plan for the children to immediately transition into the nurse’s family home. The nurse and her husband finalized the adoption after the mother’s passing. All five of the children successfully completed high school and the girls completed college while the boys chose a career in the military. I met with the family a few years after the children were adopted and the children stated that they were thankful that their mother was able to be involved in the selection and transition to their new family.
Education: I earned my Master of Social Work degree from the University of Georgia, in addition to a B.S. in Political Science. Prior to working with Nightlight, I worked with a social services agency which provided foster care and adoption programs.
Responsibilities: I help families prepare for adoption by completing their home studies, and follow up with post adoption reports.
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Education: Master of Human Services; Bachelor of Science and Psychology: Human Services, both from Liberty University
Responsibilities: Providing services to foster parents and children in foster care, maintaining foster care placements, and assisting with recruiting/certifying foster care families
Favorite Bible Verse: “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” Psalm 27:13-14
Favorite Adoption Story: My favorite adoption story is that of a family in my hometown. After having 5 biological children, they completed an international adoption of a child with special needs… and then another one… and then another one! Yes- they have 8 children total. Their adoption story reminds me of the Lord’s infinite love for us- He continually pours out his love and makes a way when it seems there is none.
Education: Marissa holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Georgia, as well as a Master of Science in Nonprofit Administration from Louisiana State University, Shreveport.
Responsibilities: As Executive Director, Marissa oversees the day to day operations of the Georgia office and the adoption programs managed there, as well as coordinating an advisory board and fundraising efforts.
