Patricia S. Ameling, M.A., PCC   

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Executive Director

Jill Davies, LSW  

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Director of Domestic Adoptions

Jill has worked in the child welfare field for over 20 years, beginning her career investigating child abuse and neglect for the Child Welfare System.  She later began working in the area of public and private adoption and has continued to work in this field for the past 13 years.  

Jill, an Ohio adoption assessor, currently oversees the Birth Parent Services Program and the Domestic Public Adoption Program at Caring for Kids.  Jill has dedicated her career to child welfare and believes that not only does every child deserve a family, but that there is a family for every child.

Ashley Berdine, MSSA, LSW  

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Foster Care Supervisor 

Ashley graduated from Case Western Reserve University in May of 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communication Disorders.  She continued to graduate school where she obtained a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve’s Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences in May of 2010.  

Before joining the Caring for Kids staff, Ashley worked at a summer camp for children with special needs and at a crisis nursery. She has experience as a child-centered recruiter as well as a foster care case manager.

Ashley is a strong advocate for children and families and is passionate about obtaining needed services to provide the best outcome for those she serves.

Michael Lynn Blackburn, BASW, LSW  

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Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter 

Michael Lynn received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from The University of Akron in May 2011.  She began her social work career as a foster care case manager where she discovered her desire to help children find permanent homes.

Michael Lynn joined the Caring for Kids team in August 2012 as part of the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids' recruiter program.  She works with youth in county custody who are at risk of aging out of foster care without permanent homes or adult connections.  Michael Lynn is passionate about the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids belief that “unadoptable is unacceptable” and believes every child should, and can, have a permanent family.

Hilda F. Bowman, LSW  

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Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter

Since receiving her bachelor’s degree from The University of Akron in 1991, Hilda has served children in the Public Child Welfare System for over 15 years.  She is a certified Ohio adoption assessor and licensed social worker.  Hilda began working in the foster care field at Caring For Kids in 1997.  She eventually switched to the adoption field after finding that, of the families she worked with, many ultimately adopted their foster children.  

For the past six years she has worked in public adoption under the Adopt Cuyahoga Kids CCR program and in the last two years has been working for the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program.

In her role as a child-centered recruiter, Hilda focuses exclusively on recruiting families for waiting children in county custody, particularly those at risk of aging out of the system.  Hilda considers this child-centered work to be the most important of her career, because it gives the youth she works with a voice in their future.

In 2010, Hilda received the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services Adoption Advocate of the Year award and, in 2007, was named the Best Worker Ever by the Adoption Network Cleveland for her work in the Adopt Cuyahoga Kids CCR program.

Bill Butt, LSW   

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Ohio Adoption Assessor

Bill began his social work career in the Public Child Welfare System as an ongoing worker.  In 2007, he joined the Caring for Kids team as a child-centered recruiter with the Adopt Cuyahoga Kids program.  

Currently working with both foster and adoptive families, Bill provides post-placement supervision, constructs court packets for adoption finalizations, completes home studies, and provides foster care case management.

Bill’s unique brand of humor is greatly appreciated by co-workers and clients alike.  As the father of two internationally adopted children, one from Guatemala and one from El Salvador, Bill is able to share an adoptive father’s perspective with his clients.

Linda J. Chasteen, LISW  

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Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter

Linda joined Caring for Kids in August 2012 as a recruiter for the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program.  She is an Ohio adoption assessor and enjoys supporting all members of the adoption triad.

In the past, Linda has worked as a medical social worker and as an adoption match coordinator.  She has experience with grief and loss and has also worked with children in early intervention.

Linda is an adoptive mother herself, having adopted children through an open, domestic adoption and an international adoption.  She co-founded and, for many years, facilitated an adoption support group in Medina County.  

Linda considers herself a strong advocate for adoption and looks forward to helping foster children find their forever families.

Tracy Deitrick, LSW  

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Public Adoption Program Coordinator

Tracy graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from the University of Akron in 1994 and is a licensed social worker and Ohio adoption assessor.  

Throughout her career, Tracy has held a variety of positions.  She has legally advocated for battered women, worked as a social worker for Akron Public Schools and has been a caseworker for at-risk teens.  For eight years Tracy has worn many hats in the adoption field, working as an assessor, trainer, and caseworker.  

She lives in the Akron area with her four wonderful, young children.

Allison Neumeister, MSSA, LISW  

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Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter 

Allison joined the Caring for Kids staff in 2010 as a child-centered recruiter for the Waiting Child Fund, after receiving her Master’s Degree of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University in 2009.  

She completed the State of Ohio adoption assessor training in 2010 and began completing home studies and providing post-placement supervision for adoptive families.  In August of 2012, Allison began working with the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program.

Allison works with waiting youth who are at risk of aging out of the foster care system without forever homes or supportive adult relationships.  She is inspired by the resilience of her youth and advocates that every child deserves, and can have, a permanent family. 

Andrea Rubinstein, MSA, LSW

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Director, Columbus Office

Birth Parent Counselor   

Andrea holds a Master’s Degree in Administration and has worked in the field of child welfare and adoption since 1992.  She is a licensed social worker and Ohio adoption assessor.

Andrea works with and counsels expectant birth parents considering placing their child for adoption and with couples considering growing their families through adoption.  

Andrea’s responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations of Caring for Kids’ Columbus office, conducting home studies, as well as providing post-placement services for adoptive families and post-adoption counseling for birth parents.  She is married and has two children.

Lori Scobee, LSW  

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Birth Parent Counselor

Since graduating from the University of Kentucky in 1992, Lori has worked in many different areas of social work including child protection, foster care, adoption, supervision, and administration.

Lori uses her previous experience in the adoption field to provide birth parents with the most comprehensive, considerate service.

Reading, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and watching UK basketball are all things Lori loves.  She also enjoys volunteering in her community as the executive director of Wadsworth FISH. 

Danielle Snyder, MSW, LSW  

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Foster Care Case Manager

After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Akron in December of 2011, Danielle received her Master’s of Social Work in May of 2012 from the same university. 

Danielle started her career at Caring for Kids as a child-centered recruiter and is currently working as a foster care case manager and an Ohio adoption assessor.  Danielle has a strong passion to advocate for and make a difference in the lives of children currently in foster care.

Mimi Surloff Markis, LISW  

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Supervisor of Public Adoption

Mimi joined the staff of Caring for Kids in January 2009 as an Ohio adoption assessor and child-centered recruiter for the Waiting Child Fund.  Since then, she has taken on the role of match coordinator for the agency’s Public Adoption Program and supervisor of its Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters.  

Mimi also supervises the agency’s contract workers, approves adoption home studies, and supervises college interns.  

Since beginning her social work career in 1974, Mimi has worked with children and families in a variety of capacities.  Her work in residential treatment, early intervention, and adoption services as well as her work for the Summit County Juvenile Court Guardian Ad Litem program has allowed her to provide foster and adoption services as well as individual, family, marital, and group counseling.

As an adoptive parent herself, Mimi is a strong advocate for older children in the foster care system and believes that permanency can, and should be, achieved for children before they reach the age of 18.

Sarah Widmer, MSW, LSW  

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Birth Parent Counselor

Sarah joined Caring for Kids in June of 2011 after completing her Master’s Degree in Social Work at The University of Akron.  

As a Birth Parent Counselor and Ohio adoption assessor, Sarah works closely with and provides support to everyone involved in the adoption process.  She makes sure birth parents are aware of all their options and that, regardless of their decision, they feel supported.  

She is passionate about ensuring that any plan put in place is, above all else, what is best for the child.  Whether it is to provide support, counseling, material needs, or post-placement services, Sarah is grateful to be involved with this loving decision. 

Lynn Connolly  

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Financial Administrator

Lynn is a 1983 graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.  

She is in charge of the agency’s financial services which includes billing, reimbursements, and accounts payable.  Lynn is pleased to be working in a supportive role in a challenging and rewarding environment.  

Lynne Swinehart  

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Public Search Coordinator

Lynne joined Caring for Kids in June 2008 as a public search coordinator.  She works to match children ranging in age from birth to 17 years old with adoptive families.  She enjoys searching for the children she works with and sharing in the excitement when they are matched with a family. 

Lynne’s 35 years of experience as a special education teacher and coordinator in the Akron Public Schools has given her a great tool set from which to draw upon during the search and match processes.

Michelle Bores  

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Administrative Assistant

Michelle began her career working with children in 1995 as a Kindergarten teacher in Garfield Heights.  In 1997, she began working as a preschool administrator and since then has fulfilled various roles over the last 15 years.  

Although her role does not involve working directly with children, Michelle enjoys providing support to them from behind the scenes.

Amanda Butler      

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     Administrative Assistant

Amanda joined the Caring for Kids staff in August of 2011, bringing eight years of customer service experience with her.  

Amanda works closely with the foster care department and enjoys meeting the families and interacting with the children.  She is always available to answer questions from foster and pre-adoptive parents to assist with making the home study process less intimidating.

Telli Carter  

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Office Manager 

Telli has worked at Caring for Kids for the past three and a half years and enjoys being creative and assisting adoptive parents expand their families.  Before joining Caring for Kids, she had more than 15 years of customer service and office experience.  

Telli is always available to answer clients’ questions and assist during this very emotional time in an adoptive family’s life.