About Adoption Rhode Island

Alex joined Adoption Rhode Island as a Permanency Specialist in the Teen Focus program in 2017. Prior to joining ARI, Alex worked as a home-based case worker at Communities for People. His experience includes work with youth of all ages in various domains throughout the state of Rhode Island. Alex has a strong passion for working with teens to assist them in reaching permanency and stability.

Email: aderita@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x326

Amanda Choiniere joined the Adoption RI team with 15 years of experience working with children and families. She has worked with children of all ages in various capacities in the human services field. Amanda obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Rhode Island College. In addition to her experience, Amanda is also an adoptive parent of two beautiful children. Amanda’s belief is that every child should have a family to love and call their own.

Email: achoiniere@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x302

After 10 years as one of our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter, Angela has transitioned to our Support Team working with adoptive families in our Preserving Families Program. Angela has extensive experience working with children in the child welfare system of all ages under a wide range of circumstances. She is excited to be working with families in this role, helping to ensure permanency for children and families impacted by adoption.

Email: agomes@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x321

Anissa Latifi, MSW, LICSW joined Adoption RI in 2022 after years of work in the foster care field in RI. She has experience in a range of practice settings (family court, homes, community and schools). Anissa received a master’s degree in clinical social work from Boston University in 2019 and specializes in complex trauma and attachment disorders. As a social worker Anissa is passionate and committed to providing children and families touched by foster care and adoption with education, advocacy, support and high-quality clinical care from a permanency and adoption competent lens.

Bernie has been at Adoption Rhode Island since 2002. She is the mother of nine, seven of her children having been adopted. Bernie’s own life experience and knowledge of the adoption community helps make her a valuable part of our team. She plays a dual role at Adoption Rhode Island by also providing assistance to the Office Manager.

Email: bhicks@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x304

Beth has over twenty-one years experience working directly with waiting and adoptive children & families, both helping to keep them hopeful as they wait, and supporting them throughout the adoption process. As Program Manager, Beth will continue to provide support, education and advocacy to the children and families we serve. She is passionate and committed to helping children in DCYF care find forever families through adoption and/or guardianship.

Email: bcapron@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x313

Please take a few minutes to listen to Beth Capron, Manager of Adoption & Permanency Services at Adoption RI, to learn more about becoming a pre-adoptive family and the processes that follow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=vCRH_SnYAQc&feature=emb_logo

Bridget joined the Development Team at Adoption Rhode Island in November 2012, bringing with her a background in development, working with children and marketing. As a mother of three boys, Bridget knows the importance of a loving family. She utilizes all facets of her background to ensure that the children in foster care are given the same opportunities for happiness as any other child.

Email: bgieseke@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000×324

Brooke is an Education Specialist in the Teen Focus Program and has been with us since 2021. Brooke holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Rhode Island College and brings years of systems-level experience working with the child welfare system. She has worked closely alongside Adoption Rhode Island for many years and is passionate about helping youth find permanency and thrive as community members by exploring education and career opportunities.

Catie Allard, CAGS, LMHC joined Adoption RI in 2017. She brings a set of diverse clinical skills and knowledge from a variety of settings (homes, community, schools, hospitals) with children and families and a strong interest and experience in foster care/adoption-related concerns. Catie holds Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Mental Health Counseling from Salve Regina University. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Catie is dedicated to and passionate about providing support, advocacy, education, and intervention to children and families in need. Catie believes in the power of human connection and tailoring a compassionate, holistic approach to working with each individual and family.

Catie received a 90-hour yoga teacher certification from CorePower Yoga in Denver, Colorado in 2011 and implements mindfulness into many of her practices. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, art/writing, hiking, flower gardening, and spending time with her cat, dog, and friends/family.

Email: callard@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x310

Claudia joins the Adoption Rhode Island team as a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Adoption recruiter. Claudia comes to ARI with 21 years of child welfare system experience; working with a variety of youths and families during her tenure in a residential facilitate. She assisted youth and families with support building, positive and effective communication and advocacy. Claudia has the belief that all children deserve to have a loving and supporting family to rally around them, helping to provide guidance, support and a chance to be a “kid” regardless of the challenges.

Email: cdefaria@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x329

Darlene is a nationally recognized nonprofit sector leader, innovator and change maker who has dedicated her professional life to improving the lives of children impacted by abuse, neglect and trauma. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Providence College, Master of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts, Certificate in Non- Profit Leadership from Harvard University, Kennedy School and is an alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 small businesses entrepreneurial program. For more than 35 years, Darlene has worked in both public and private organizations developing services to address the behavioral health and child welfare needs of children, youth and families as well as advocating on a local and national level for improved child and youth serving programs, policies and practices.

Darlene is the CEO and Executive Director of Adoption Rhode Island, Acting Director of the Center for Advanced Practice at ARI and a national child welfare consultant. Darlene is a strong advocate for trauma –informed, adoption and permanency –competent services and is a consistent voice for laws and policies that best serve the unique needs and strengthen the contributions of the adoption, kin and foster care communities. During her career, she has developed, managed and implemented many government and philanthropic- funded programs and initiatives.

Darlene is the Vice Chair of the National Adoption Exchange Association, a Board member of the Voice For Adoption and a member of the National Family Builders Association. Darlene also serves as the Chair of the Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families and a member of the Rhode Island Child Fatality Review team. She has served as a mentor for numerous emerging leaders in Rhode Island. Darlene has been recognized with a Congressional Angel in Adoption award for her commitment to children waiting for adoption and an award from the Attorney General’s office for her commitment to child abuse victims.

Email: dallen@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x301

Donna Rivera came to Adoption RI in February 2008, bringing over 10 years of marketing communications, website management, and graphic design experience as well as a passion for building families through adoption. “I’ve learned first hand, there are so many children out there who need families and so many hopeful parents who may not know that state adoption is a mutually beneficial option.” As an adoptive parent of three beautiful children, and among those at Adoption RI who ‘always takes pictures’, Donna understands and appreciates the process from all sides and is proud to be a part of the amazing team that is Adoption Rhode Island.

Email: drivera@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x309

Emily joined the Adoption Rhode Island team in October 2014, with a career devoted to working with children and teenagers with special needs in foster care and adoptive homes. Her relationship with Adoption RI stems back to 2003, where for nearly a decade, she worked in the Families for Children treatment foster care and adoption program at Communities for People, first as a Social Worker and then as the Director, responsible for the training, licensing, and clinical support oversight of foster and pre-adoptive families. Through her experiences in this program, as well as her collaboration with Adoption RI, her passion for permanency has only grown through the years, with the mantra that there is a family for every child and a child for every family.

Emily has also spent time working in RI System of Care, where she gained knowledge and experience in systems development and service array building. Outside of her time with Adoption RI, Emily has a small private practice and currently works, as a Lead Clinician, with the Therapeutic Sports Program, working with youth with diverse mental and emotional health needs through the use of sports. Emily is eager and excited to be working with the Adoption RI team!

Email: elyon@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x308

Esther joined the ARI Staff in September 2018 as a Clinical Social Worker with the Preserving Families Support Team. In May 2022, Esther took in the role of Department Coordinator for the Support team. Esther holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and has experience with Trauma-Informed Care with a holistic family centered approach. Esther has a background working with families and children within the home, school, or office and her skills and knowledge are matched by her passion to work with, advocate for and to educate families touched by adoption and the foster care system.

Email: erobbins@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x312

Gabriel joins the Adoption Rhode Island team as one of the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Adoption Recruiters. Gabriel has 19 years of experience in the child welfare system. He began his career in a boys’ group home gaining experience while working in collaboration with the DCYF system and juvenile justice. He continued his work with a community based outreach program as a caseworker, and later supervisor, serving at-risk youth all over the state of Rhode Island. Gabriel believes that serving children and families, and promoting self-efficacy and positive self esteem will help them to live their best lives. Gabriel is looking forward to assisting the youth in the foster care system and helping bring families together.

Email: gtoro@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x322

Jennifer joined Adoption RI as Director of Development and Community Relations in April 2016. She has been dedicated to the welfare of children and families throughout her career as an educator and fundraiser and is passionate about the belief that every child deserves hope, love and the opportunity for the best possible future. She comes to the Adoption RI team from San Miguel School where she was Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives for the past ten years. Jennifer brings experience as a teacher, program director, and fundraiser from her work with San Miguel School, Goodwill RI and the Providence Public Library. She has two children and takes pleasure in time spent with her family and friends, especially enjoying all that living in Rhode Island has to offer.

Email: jfoster@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x319

Kat has over 15 years of experience in human services, including community engagement; systems advocacy; organizational and program development; government relations and policy analysis; and administrative leadership. As the Manager of Program Development and Youth Transition Services at Adoption Rhode Island, she is responsible for the organization’s outcomes and evaluation planning, organizational and program development, as well as continuing to grow the organization’s work to improve permanency and education outcomes for youth and young adults exiting foster care. She also assists with development of ARI’s Center for Advanced Practice and revamping the Adoption and Foster Care Certificate Program. Kat also serves as Adjunct Faculty at Rhode Island College School of Social Work, where she has instructed several master’s and bachelor’s level courses related to macro social work practice and also provides off-site MSW supervision for second-year MSW students with a macro concentration. Kat earned her BSW and MSW from Rhode Island College School of Social Work and earned her License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW) in RI in 2018. She completed the All Adoptions Consulting and Training (AACT) Certificate, and is an Adoption Scholar through the Rudd Adoption Research Program at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has presented in various workshops, trainings, and community presentations and has also assisted with communications and fund development planning.
email: ktavares@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x325

Lenka came to Adoption RI in October 2015, bringing over 20 years of experience in bookkeeping and accounting, 17 of those in the nonprofit world. Born in Czech Republic, Lenka is speaks fluent in two languages.

In her free time, Lenka enjoys spending time with her family and their dog Rosie. She also enjoys going for long walks, jogging and cooking.

Email: ltrahan@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x305

Marcie rejoins the ARI staff as a Youth Development Specialist in the Teen Focus Program. With an extensive child welfare background, which includes case coordination, direct care work with youth and families in residential and in-home services, she is motivated and committed to permanency for children and families. This commitment is exemplified in Marcie having been a foster parent and adoptive parent.

Email: mbakerhinds@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x320

Through a grant from Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, a signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Meaghan helps find families for children in the Rhode Island foster Care system using the WWK child-focused recruitment model. With previous experience in the child welfare field, Meaghan brings knowledge and compassion around foster care and permanency to her position. Meaghan believes that there is a family to meet each child’s individual needs.

Email: mmenard@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x328

Merry Caswell serves as the Educational Consultant for Adoption Rhode Island, providing guidance, support and advocacy for client families and students as they navigate the education system in Rhode Island. Merry is a former elementary and middle school principal in Pawtucket and Newport with more than 38 years of experience, and she was the director of the advanced standing secondary student program for middle and high school students in Pawtucket as well. She was named the RI Middle School Principal of the Year in 2008, and she was the National Principal of the Year runner up. Since 2003, she has taught teacher education classes at the University of Rhode Island. From 2013 through 2018, she was the administrative director of the First Star URI Academy, a partnership program initiated by Hasbro, Inc. in conjunction with URI and Adoption RI. In this role, Merry worked with identified teens in the state foster care system, and provided programs and support to them in high school and with their post-secondary goals. Merry is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor of arts in secondary Education and English, has master’s degrees in teaching and curriculum development, and has done doctoral work in educational leadership.

Email: mcaswell@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x323

Sara joined Adoption RI in July 2022 as Permanency Specialist on the Teen Focus team, after previously working inpatient with adolescent youth. Sara was drawn to Adoption Rhode Island and the Teen Focus program by her passion for the mission, coupled  with the belief that youth and young adults are resilient and can succeed when given the opportunity.

She is excited about her role at ARI and the chance to help older youth in care prepare for adulthood.

Shannon joined the Recruitment and Matching Team in October 2012 with 9 years of experience working with children and families who are progressing through the DCYF system of care. She has worked in residential group homes, community based programs, and offered visitation to children and families. In her personal life Shannon has been a foster and adoptive parent. She believes that healthy permanent connections are important in the lives of all children.
Email: sdoherty@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x307

Meet Shannon below as she talks about the adoption process…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75bYTw5J998&feature=emb_logo

Stacie joined Adoption RI in July 2022.  Stacie has a bubbly spirit and big smile that will light up any room she walks in.  She has her bachelor’s degree in Communication.  Stacie has had experience working in media for news outlets WPRI (channel 12) and ABC 6 news (channel 6).

After working for the news media for quite some time, Stacie branched out into working in the educational field.  She has experience working with children ages 3 to 18 years old in public schools and preschools.

Stacie loves helping others in any way she can. Working in the public-school districts, she had the opportunity to build many close relationships with her students and has inspired them in many ways being a positive role model for them.

Stacie loves to meet new people and build on relationships with others.  Before graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Stacie created her own radio show called The Stacie Bel Show.  Once she graduated, she decided to turn it visual and published her talk show on YouTube.  Stacie targets three main things on her talk show, which is being a mental health advocate, being a platform for local business owners and local talent and being an outlet to talk about everyday relatable topics people can relate to.  Stacie aspires to be a positive role model for people of all different ages and race.  Stacie wants to be an outlet for others and tell other people’s stories in any way she can.  She wants to spread positivity and uplift others in any way she can leaving an everlasting impact.  Stacie wishes to inspire and motivate people to do better for themselves.

Stacie is excited to be with the Adoption RI team because she has so many new innovative ideas to bring to the team.  As an office manager, here at Adoption RI, Stacie is dedicated to touching people’s lives.  She is devoted to spreading more awareness about Adoption RI through social media platforms and other outlets. Stacie is that kind and caring spirit the kids here can turn to and feel comfortable talking to. Stacie wishes to take her position as office manager to the next level. Stacie is happy to be working for an agency that is doing good for many different kids. Stacie strongly believes that the children today are our future and what better way to help shape and mold these positive leaders and role models than through Adoption RI. Stacie has a strong passion working with kids and helping them. With her experience working with kids, she has had the opportunity to watch their growth. She believes it’s a beautiful experience to witness firsthand all the major growth the kids she has worked with in the past have gone through and she can’t wait to experience more of those moments and milestones here at Adoption RI.

Formerly a Permanency Specialist in our Teen Focus program, Stephanie transitioned over to our Child & Family Support Team where she is a part-time. Stephanie has a master’s degree in counseling with a concentration in school counseling, and a certificate of graduate studies in advanced counseling. She holds a school counselor certification from the Rhode Island Department of Education and completed the Adoption and Foster Care Certificate program. She has experience working in a variety of diverse settings, including community-based, in-home, residential, and public school systems.

Email: spezzone@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x314

Yolonda is part of our Teen Focus Program in the role of Educational Specialist at Adoption RI. A Youth Advocate on many levels, she have been advocating for children and youth in care for over ten years and am beyond passionate about what I do.
Yolonda is driven to inspire youth to live up to their fullest potential and encourage them to use their voice to help improve the child welfare system. She feels honored to serve and help create better outcomes for the children and youth we work with — recognizing that they are the future.

Email: ywashburn@adoptionri.org
Tel: 401.865.6000 x395