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: Ephesians 3:14-21: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Favorite Adoption Story: I would have to say my current favorite adoption story is my Husband’s adoption story. My mother in law was faced with health complications at a young age that caused her to have a medically necessary hysterectomy. She faced this procedure with bravery and grace, saying the Lord assured her no matter the outcome she would have another child. Several months after her procedure my father in law’s office secretary approached him stating she was facing an unplanned pregnancy and she felt the Lord was encouraging her to share this with him and his wife. My father in law shared their story and the Lord’s promise to them and she immediately shared she knew the Lord was fulfilling His promise to them through her. She shared she was blessed and honored to be the vessel through which the Lord blessed them and was humbled to be the one He chose. My Husband and his family still refer to his Birth Mom as his Angel and we thank the Lord for her bravery and sacrifice every day.
Education: Amber is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Prior to working with Nightlight, Amber was a Resource Coordinator for a therapeutic foster care agency. She is excited to be working with our expectant parents and adoptive parents in Georgia.
Responsibilities: Amber is the Domestic Program Coordinator for the Georgia office. She counsels and supports expectant parents who are making an adoption plan. She also assists families throughout the state by taking them through the domestic adoption process. She is responsible for meeting with birth parents and families as they take the journey toward adoption. She does outreach throughout Georgia to different hospitals, pregnancy resource centers, and medical facilities.
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: Chelsea ensures compliance with state laws and regulations, and overseas the home study program, domestic adoption program, and foster care program in the Georgia office
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 6:34 - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Education: I have my Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with a major in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Georgia. I will complete my Master’s degree in Social Work in August 2023 from Campbellsville University.
Responsibilities: I am responsible for the application proceedings for all programs, collection of all required documentation, and collaborating with necessary staff and clients throughout the home study approval process. I am also a part of the inquiry team that works with families who are deciding which program would be the best fit for them. I additionally work with families in the post adoption/placement phase to ensure they receive the support they need as they complete their adoption journey.
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.
