Meet Our Staff
Executive Directors
Patricia S. Ameling, M.A., PCC
Co-Director
Patricia S. Ameling, M.A., PCC
- Email:pat@cfkadopt.org
Jill Davies, LSW
Co-Director
Jill Davies, LSW
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.
- Email:jill@cfkadopt.org
Program Directors
Ashley Berdine, MSSA, LISW-S
Foster Care
Behavioral Health
Ashley Berdine, MSSA, LISW-S
- Email:ashley@cfkadopt.org
Erin King, LISW
Council on Accreditation
Community Engagement
Erin King, LISW
Erin joined the Caring for Kids team full time in May 2013 as part of the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program. She transitioned into the position of Birth Parent Counselor in 2015. Erin has a passion for working with children and families and loves working with prospective birth families and prospective adoptive families.
- Email:erin@cfkadopt.org
Renee Baker, LSW
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Renee Baker, LSW
Renee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Baldwin-Wallace College. She is a Licensed Social Worker and a Certified Adoption Assessor. Renee joined Caring for Kids in 2015, and is currently the Supervisor for the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program. She is passionate about finding long term connections and permanency for youth and is excited to be a member of the WWK team!
- Email:renee@cfkadopt.org
Cassie Shreve, CPA
Finance/HR
Cassie Shreve, CPA
Cassie is married and has one child. She enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.
- Email:cassie@cfkadopt.org
Sarah Bozsik, LISW-S
Private Program
Sarah Bozsik, LISW-S
Sarah is married and has two children. Adoption is part of her life outside of work as many family members and friends have built or grown their families by opening their hearts and homes to adoption and foster care.
- Email:sarah@cfkadopt.org
Birth Parent Services
Andrea Rubinstein, MSA, LSW
Supervisor-Columbus Office
Birth Parent Counselor
LEAD Team
Andrea Rubinstein, MSA, LSW
Andrea works with and counsels expectant expectant 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 expectant parents. She is married and has two children.
- Email:andrea@cfkadopt.org
Anna Allen, MSW, LSW
Birth Parent Counselor
Anna Allen, MSW, LSW
Anna is married and is parenting 4 daughters. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing board games and going to the movies.
- Email:anna@cfkadopt.org
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiters
Matthew Snider, BA
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Supervisor
Matthew Snider, BA
Most recently Matthew did ongoing casework in Franklin County for over three years bringing stability, safety, and permanency to children and families in Franklin County.
Matthew believes that every child deserves stability, love, and a forever family. Matthew Is dedicated to working towards the goal of adoption for every child, regardless of their story.
- Email:matthew@cfkadopt.org
Lydia Keto, LSW
Wendy's Wonderful Kids
Supervisor
Lydia Keto, LSW
Lydia worked in child welfare for almost 10 years, with 5 years in the post adoption unit. She wrote a quarterly newsletter and ran a support group for adoptive families and aided families in applying for post adoption subsidy. She has also worked as an assessor for an international adoption agency, and had the opportunity to travel to South Korea to bring home children for families in which she completed their home study.
She believes every child deserves to have a forever family and will work hard for every child on her case load.
- Email:lydia@cfkadopt.org
Darlene Reynolds
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Darlene Reynolds
Darlene truly believes that every kid deserves stability and a forever home! She is a proponent of the child-focused recruitment model which is evidence based and up to 3 times more effective in serving youth who have been in foster care the longest. Darlene is very excited to be an advocate for at-risk youth and being part of the WWK team.
- Email:darlene@cfkadopt.org
Denise Barczyk, LSW
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Denise Barczyk, LSW
Denise has experience in Child Centered Recruitment, Child Protection, Early Intervention, and Partial Hospitalization groups in a residential setting, along with training residential staff. Denise enjoys being active in her community and volunteering.
Denise joined Caring for Kids as a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter in July 2013. The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids belief that “unadoptable is unacceptable” is at the heart of all Denise does. She feels that each and every child deserves a forever family.
- Email:denise@cfkadopt.org
Gina Branco, BS, CMFT
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Gina Branco, BS, CMFT
- Email:ginab@cfkadopt.org
Gina Holderbaum, LSW
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Gina Holderbaum, LSW
Gina retired in 2017, but she still had the desire to help older children find families who are in the foster care system, so she joined Caring for Kids in January 2018 as a Wendy’s Wonderful Kid’s Recruiter. She loves her role of being a strong advocate for children who are at risk of aging out of the system without a permanent plan. She feels that children are never too old for a family to call their own.
- Email:gina@cfkadopt.org
Jon Wymer, BS
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Jon Wymer, BS
Jon firmly believes that every child deserves a forever home and the opportunity to reach their full potential. Jon is committed to assisting children in establishing permanent connections and is excited to work on behalf of an organization that truly believes “unadoptable is unacceptable.”
- Email:jon@cfkadopt.org
Kaleigh Yoder, MSW, LSW
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Kaleigh Yoder, MSW, LSW
Kaleigh has a passion for foster care and adoption and believes every child deserves permanent connections, a sense of identity, and to feel safe. Kaleigh loves animals, being active, cruises, and believes “knowledge is power”.
- Email:kaleigh@cfkadopt.org
Kristin Jordan, LSW
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Kristin Jordan, LSW
Kristin joined Caring for Kids in 2011 as an adoption assessor and began completing post placement visits, homestudies, and homestudy updates. In addition to her adoption assessor work, she has now begun working with the Wendy Wonderful Kids’ program as of August 2012.
Being adopted herself along with several of her siblings, Kristin is a strong advocate of adoption. She also has experience with multi racial adoptions being raised in a racially mixed family herself.
- Email:kristin@cfkadopt.org
Laura Merklin, MSW, LSW
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Laura Merklin, MSW, LSW
- Email:laura@cfkadopt.org
Rochelle Hohman, BA
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Rochelle Hohman, BA
- Email:rochelle@cfkadopt.org
Stephanie Novak, LPC
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Stephanie Novak, LPC
Stephanie works with children who are at risk of aging out of the foster care system and are in need of a permanent family. She loves her role as advocate for children and is motivated by her belief that every child deserves a loving, committed family to grow up in.
- Email:stephanie@cfkadopt.org
Shaina Provey
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Shaina Provey
She loves to travel, take photos and read. Her love for travel took her on a cross country road trip that led her right back here to Ohio. At the very end of 2021, Shaina joined the Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter team and she is excited to be here for the youth as their biggest cheerleader.
- Email:shaina@cfkadopt.org
Kirstie Clapper, BS
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Kirstie Clapper, BS
Kirstie joined the Caring for Kids team in 2021 as a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter. Kirstie is thankful to have the opportunity to help find adoptive homes and permanency for the youth in the program. Kirstie believes every child deserves a “forever family”.
- Email:kirstie@cfkadopt.org
Caroline Montanez, BSW
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Caroline Montanez, BSW
- Email:caroline@cfkadopt.org
Tyler Gilmore
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Tyler Gilmore
Throughout my work experience, I grew a deep interest in the adoption process as the joy I felt witnessing my clients find their forever home was immeasurable. I am elated to have found an organization in which I can be a part of that process as everyone deserves to feel loved and a part of a family.
- Email:tyler@cfkadopt.org
Megan Garrett
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Megan Garrett
- Email:megan@cfkadopt.org
Abby Allison
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Abby Allison
Abby firmly believes that every child deserves a forever family, and is committed to advocating for stability, permanency, connections, and the well-being of all children.
In addition to her passion for adoption, Abby also loves reading, being outside, and freshly baked bread.
- Email:abby@cfkadopt.org
Kendal Wonacott
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Kendal Wonacott
- Email:kendal@cfkadopt.org
Samantha Shields
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Samantha Shields
- Email:samantha@cfkadopt.org
Amanda Snider
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Amanda Snider
- Email:amanda@cfkadopt.org
Angela McAlarney, LSW
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Recruiter
Angela McAlarney, LSW
- Email:angela@cfkadopt.org
Public Foster Care and Adoption Services
Caitlin McDougle, PCC-S
Clinical Supervisor
Caitlin McDougle, PCC-S
- Email:caitlin@cfkadopt.org
Rebecca Resnik MSSW, LSW
Foster Care Supervisor
Rebecca Resnik MSSW, LSW
- Email:rebecca@cfkadopt.org
Tracy Deitrick, LSW
Assessor Supervisor
Tracy Deitrick, LSW
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 eighteen 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 children.
- Email:tracy@cfkadopt.org
Christin Bartunek, PCC-S
Clinical Case
Manager
Christin Bartunek, PCC-S
Christin’s responsibilities include assisting in the the day-to-day operations of Caring for Kids’ Columbus office, conducting home studies, teaching pre-service training, providing case management for foster placements as well as providing post-placement services for adoptive families. She is married and has two biological children and two adopted children.
- Email:christin@cfkadopt.org
Christine Sourek, MSW, LSW
Clinical Case
Manager
Christine Sourek, MSW, LSW
- Email:christine@cfkadopt.org
Danielle Nastase, LISW
Clinical Case
Manager
Danielle Nastase, LISW
Donielle Aufdencamp, MSW, LSW
Clinical Case
Manager
Donielle Aufdencamp, MSW, LSW
Prior to coming to Caring for Kid in July 2020, Donielle worked for another foster care agency where she was able to grow her knowledge of the child welfare system and her passion for helping children grew. She loves helping children and seeing their progress and development.
Donielle lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband and two fur babies (cats) Ella and Lily. In her spare time she likes to crochet and cross stitch.
- Email:donielle@cfkadopt.org
Gervaise Burks
Intake and Support
Specialist
Gervaise Burks
Gervaise joined the Caring for Kids staff in September 2013. Gervaise has 11 years of experience working with children and families in the foster care system. In Gervaise’s current role in the Foster Care Department as an Intake and Support Specialist, she is always willing to provide all clients with a supportive, informative and welcoming environment.
- Email:gervaise@cfkadopt.org
Ishanae Pollard, MACJ, MSW, LSW
Clinical Case Manager
Ishanae Pollard, MACJ, MSW, LSW
- Email:ishanae@cfkadopt.org
Maureen Centa, BSSW, LSW
Training and Support
Specialist
Maureen Centa, BSSW, LSW
Maureen brings a wealth of personal knowledge and experience to the agency. Maureen is the mother of six children, four of which she was blessed to have had join her family through adoption. Maureen is experienced with adopting through a private domestic infant program and also fostering and adopting teens, sibling groups, special needs children, having open adoptions, and adopting out of birth order.
- Email:maureen@cfkadopt.org
Melanie Montgomery, LSW
Public Adoption Coordinator
Melanie Montgomery, LSW
Melanie has several years of experience working with families in both private and public child welfare agencies. She has a personal connection to foster care and adoption as she and her husband were licensed foster parents for 3 years and adopted a sibling group of 3 children in 2020.
Melanie lives in the Akron area with her husband and 7 children.
- Email:melanie@cfkadopt.org
Monica Brown, MA, LPC
Clinical Case Manager
Monica Brown, MA, LPC
- Email:monica@cfkadopt.org
Mya Clemons, BASW, LSW
Clinical Case Manager
Mya Clemons, BASW, LSW
- Email:mya@cfkadopt.org
Jaidyn Adkins, BSSW, LSW
Clinical Case Manager
Jaidyn Adkins, BSSW, LSW
Jaidyn still lives in Newark, Ohio with her dog, Remmie. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, relaxing, watching movies, playing board games, hiking, or taking other adventures.
- Email:Jaidyn@cfkadopt.org
Leah Cistone
Administrative Assistant
Leah Cistone
- Email:leah@cfkadopt.org
Wenda Carr
Administrative Assistant
Wenda Carr
- Email:wenda@cfkadopt.org
Joey Crookshanks
Administrative Assistant
Joey Crookshanks
- Email:joey@cfkadopt.org
Joey Crookshanks
Administrative Assistant
Joey Crookshanks
- Email:joey@cfkadopt.org
Financial & Support Staff
Ashley Keener
Administrative Assistant
Ashley Keener
- Email:ashleyk@cfkadopt.org
Ben Thompson
Community Engagement and Development
Ben Thompson
Ben served as the chairman of the board for the Foster Care advocacy and support group, Fostering Love from 2018-2020 and has helped a number of people begin their journey into Foster Care and Adoption and helped provide ongoing support for them as they've continued the journey.
As a birth dad who placed a child for adoption in high school, and as a transracial foster and adoptive parent to his son, Ben possesses a unique blend of personal experience and passion for helping children find safe and caring environments for nurture, growth and success. He is married with three children and lives in Columbus.
- Email:ben@cfkadopt.org
Bill Butt, LSW
Ohio Adoption Assessor
Bill Butt, LSW
Currently working with both foster and adoptive families, Bill provides post-placement supervision, constructs court packets for adoption finalizations, and completes home studies.
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
- Email:bill@cfkadopt.org
Colette Mickle, LSW
Recruiter
Colette Mickle, LSW
Colette is married and has two children. She values the importance of being part of a permanent family and enjoys seeing connections that grow through the foster care/adoption experience.
- Email:colette@cfkadopt.org
Emily Williams
SACWIS Coordinator
Emily Williams
Emily coordinates the state wide database and works to get families approved to foster and adopt. She enjoys meeting families and interacting with children.
- Email:emily@cfkadopt.org
Karen Gonidakis
Administrative Assistant
Karen Gonidakis
Karen came to Caring For Kids in April 2019 and is thrilled to be assisting in the process of our private adoption program.
- Email:karen@cfkadopt.org
Michelle Bores
Administrative Assistant
Michelle Bores
Although her role does not involve working directly with children, Michelle enjoys attending events such as “My Time to Shine” and the fishing event we hold each year. She also enjoys providing support to our families and children through the finance and administrative departments.
- Email:michelle@cfkadopt.org
Melissa Cameratta
Financial Assistant
Melissa Cameratta
- Email:melissa@cfkadopt.org
Cassidy Moore
Administrative Assistant
Cassidy Moore
- Email:info@cfkadopt.org
Thank You For Your Support!
We thank you for your consideration of these strong, selfless women – whose tremendous sacrifice and courage to make an adoption plan for their child deserves our ongoing encouragement and support.
We welcome your questions! Please feel free to call or email Lori Scobee at Lori@cfkadopt.org or Jill Davies at jill@cfkadopt.org.