Favorite Bible Verse: I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help come from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Education: Alicia earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kentucky and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Sweet Briar College. She is a certified social worker with the state of Kentucky. She has prior experience with child, adolescent, and family therapy, as well as providing social services to low income families through several community agencies.
Responsibilities: In her role as the Vice President of Social Services, Alicia is responsible for the training, supervision and support of Social Services Staff across all offices of Nightlight. She also oversees home study process and procedure across the agency, interagency partnerships for international adoptions, staff and parent education, and COA accreditation maintenance. Alicia joined the Nightlight team in January 2012 and previously held roles as a Social Services Manager, Home Study Coordinator/Provider, and Inquiry Specialist. Alicia lives with her husband and dogs in Lexington, Kentucky. She enjoys nature, running, reading, and providing health and wellness coaching.
Favorite Bible Verse: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fails. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23
Favorite Adoption Story: My favorite adoption story is of a family who originally came to Nightlight desiring to adopt a young girl, under 3 with minor special needs. They had been waiting in our China program for a couple of months and they saw a child we were advocating for who had down syndrome. They initially asked about her and said they weren't sure about adopting a child with that special need but were considering it. After taking time to pray and consider her file, they decided to move forward with her adoption. She is now happily home with the family and they have been thrilled with this joyous child in their home. I love that God opened their heart to adopting their daughter and they listened to that call. Sometimes we can miss out on so much when we aren't open to what God has in store for us.
Favorite Adoption Story: My family has been touched by adoption in many ways, but my new favorite story is the adoption of our son, Bryan, who we adopted from Colombia in 2018. We had no intention of becoming adoptive parents, so it was definitely something God put on our hearts and in the hearts of our other children. It became clear after hosting Bryan during one of Nightlight’s hosting opportunities that he was meant to be part of our family. There have been plenty of struggles and ups and downs, but also much joy and love. We are so grateful to have him as part of our family.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Family Science, Brigham Young University
Responsibilities: Executive Director of the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program.
Favorite Adoption Story: I now have two! I began working at A Helping Hand Adoption Agency (which later became Nightlight Christian Adoptions) the first week of May, 2007. That very same week, in Guatemala, a precious little boy was born. Four months later, our Guatemalan caseworker walked through the office holding two files in the air, one in each hand, praying “Dear God, we lift the files of these two boys up to you. We know that you know where their families are and we pray, dear Lord, that You will send them our way. Do not keep them waiting!” I asked to see the files and immediately fell in love with the most beautiful baby boy I had ever seen. One month later, we began the process of adoption. One year later, this little boy became my son! In November, 2020, my cousin was hospitalized due to Covid-19. She had custody of a child through the state foster care system she was planning to adopt. She was looking for someone to keep her while she recovered. I asked my husband if we could step in as “fictive kin” and he said “Sure! We can take care of a baby for 3 or 4 weeks!” My cousin went on a ventilator the following day and took months to recover from the virus. In the meantime, my husband and I had fallen head over heels in love with the happiest, most joyful little girl and were praying individually for what we later learned was the same thing. Neither of us wanted to ask my cousin, we wanted her to ask us to adopt her! She called a few days later after learning from her doctors that she would never recover to the ability to chase after a toddler and care for a child on her own and asked if we would like to make her our little girl. Our 3 to 4 weeks turned into forever in August, 2021!
Education: Dana holds an Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Child & Family Studies from Eastern Kentucky University. Her Master’s Degree in Child & Family Studies was earned from Western Kentucky University. Dana is a member of the National Council on Family Relations and is certified as a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE).
Responsibilities: As Executive Director, Dana oversees the programs of the Kentucky office, supervises its employees and runs the day to day functioning of the office.
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vein conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking at your own interests but to the interests of others.”
Education: I received my Bachelor’s in social work from Asbury University in 2020 and completed my Master’s Degree in social work from Campbellsville University in 2021.
Responsibilities: I am the pregnancy counselor in the Kentucky office helping women navigate their pregnancy options, helping guide and support them through their adoption plan. I am also a home study and post adoption provider, working closely with adoptive families as they move through the adoption process.
Favorite Bible Verse: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30)
Favorite Adoption Story: My favorite adoption story is the one that has impacted me the most personally. My little sister joined our family thirteen years ago after our family traveled to Guatemala to bring her home to Kentucky. I can remember seeing her for the first time and immediately feeling a strong sense of certainty that she belonged with us. It has been a joy watching her grow and develop into a kind-hearted, curious, beautiful young lady who keeps our family laughing and focused on the most important things in life. Although the journey has not always been easy, I am constantly reminded of the Lord's provision and goodness when I think about how He blessed our family through the gift of adoption. I am now beyond excited to begin a new role in the adoption field as a homestudy provider!
Education: Kara joined the Nightlight team in April 2018. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master of Social Work degree from Asbury University. Kara is a certified social worker in the state of Kentucky. She has experience working with adoptive families, as well as providing community based services for children and families.
Responsibilities: Kara is the Domestic Program Coordinator for the KY office. She counsels and supports expectant parents who are making an adoption plan. She also assists families throughout the U.S 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 Kentucky to different hospitals, pregnancy resource centers, and medical facilities.
Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Favorite Adoption Story: Adoption has been such a big part of our lives for so long that it is difficult to choose a favorite story. It has impacted both our extended and immediate families. We cherish the stories of our nephew and niece, welcomed through domestic infant adoption, and three nieces who joined our family through international adoptions from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. These experiences have deeply enriched our family bonds. Within our own home, we embarked on an 11-year journey as foster parents. Each child who came into our lives left a lasting impression, and we feel incredibly blessed to have built our family through both foster care and adoption. Of our six children, three were adopted through the Kentucky foster care system. With three biological children, we hadn't initially planned on adopting. However, God had other plans. While the journey presented challenges, the joy of seeing a child heal, trust, and embrace family life has made every hardship worthwhile. We've witnessed God's transformative power, turning brokenness into beauty. We know that each of our children were always destined to be part of our family. We are profoundly grateful to be part of their stories, witnessing their resilience and the power of unconditional love. We are forever thankful for the privilege of being chosen to be parents and to play a part in God's plan for these children's lives.
Favorite Bible Verse: Joshua 3:5 “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
Favorite Adoption Story: I have been honored to witness and be a part of many adoption stories and they are all my favorite. The one I will share with you is a time when a birthmother gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and the adoptive couple was there at the hospital. But this young woman wanted to spend time with her baby. This was a difficult time for the adoptive couple because they were afraid that she would change her mind and decide to parent her son. I stayed with this birthmother during her stay at the hospital. We talked as she dressed her son and took so many pictures of him. She had to say hello and that she loved him. The adoptive couple gave her the space to do that. On the day she left the hospital, the birthmother said, “Lisa, I want to give him to you and leave.” When it was time for her to leave, she hugged and kissed her son and placed him in my arms, with tears running down her cheeks. Then she turned and sat in the wheelchair as the nurse wheeled her down the hallway. Her cries filled the maternity floor as she made the most difficult choice of her life. I was left standing in her hospital room holding this precious baby boy. As I held him, I prayed for him and the plans God had for him. I then took him to his adoptive parents. They stood holding one another, having heard the birthmother’s cries. I wiped the tears from my eyes and encouraged them to hold their son. Today this little boy is 8 years old. I continue to get pictures of birthdays and holidays when his adoptive family and his birth family spend time together. Moments now filled with smiles and laughter.
Education: Lisa is a graduate of Morehead State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. Prior to joining Nightlight in 2012, Lisa worked with the Cabinet for Families and Children completing abuse/neglect investigations and working with foster children. She has worked with A Helping Hand Adoption Agency completing home studies for couples adopting from China. Upon joining the Nightlight team in 2012, Lisa worked as Domestic Program Coordinator/Birthparent Counselor/Home Study Provider. Lisa now works in the International Programs. She coordinates the countries of Albania, Honduras, Malawi, Uganda, and some Nigeria cases.
Responsibilities: Lisa helps coordinate the Albania, Uganda, Honduras, Malawi, and Nigeria adoption programs and assists families throughout their international adoption process.
Favorite Bible Verse: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Favorite Adoption Story: One of my best friends from childhood was adopted, as well as his three older siblings.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin
Responsibilities: Assisting placing parents through the Snowflakes embryo donation process, as well as serving as the clinic liaison and communicating with fertility clinics where our adopting parents and placing parents are/were patients.
Favorite Bible Verse: “Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” ~Philippians 4:11-13
Favorite Adoption Story: I have had the experience of watching several friends and church families over the years be blessed by adoption. My favorite story involves the sweetest girl from Kazakhstan. She was born with multiple medical issues her country of origin was not equipped to treat, and as a result was viewed by families in her home country as a disgrace. This sweet little girl lived in the orphanage from the time she was 7 weeks old until she was adopted at 4.5 years old. Her adoptive family knew God had great plans in store for her. Even though she did not speak when she and her adoptive family met, her adoptive mother told her interpreter “But my God says she will!” and she was right! The family had multiple barriers they still had to overcome to bring her home, but with their great faith and trust in God, they brought her home. She has continued to thrive and go on to overcome the odds that were placed on her. She is now entering in to high school and continue to succeed at whatever is put in front of her.
Education: In 2005 I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from University of Kentucky. In 2011 I earned my Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, also from the University of Kentucky, which allowed me to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. Prior to joining Nightlight, I worked with children and adolescence in a behavioral health service program.
Responsibilities: Supervise agency social services employees, review home studies, provide pre-match consultations and international referral reviews.
