Our Staff

OUR STAFF

Sandra Couillard, LCSW, Executive/Clinical Director
Sandra Couillard has been employed by Connecticut Adoption & Family Services since 1998. She has worked as the clinical director since 2000 and as the executive director since July 1, 2005. She has 17 years of experience with special needs, international, and domestic private adoptions. Ms. Couillard earned her B.A. from Wellesley College and her MSW from Simmons College School of Social Work. She previously was employed as the clinical supervisor at another adoption agency. Ms Couillard's professional memberships include the Connecticut Council on Adoption, attending all trainings held by the Council; and, the new Connecticut Adoption Community Network of which she is the co-leader of the subgroup involved in creating a new resource directory of services for adoptive families in Eastern Connecticut.

CASE WORKERS:

Jean Allbee, LMFT
Ms. Allbee joined the staff of Connecticut Adoption and Family Services in September 2009. She earned her BA in Psychology from Rhode Island College in 2005 and a MS in Human Development and Family Studies, with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy, from the University of Rhode Island in 2007. Ms. Allbee interned at Ledyard Youth Services, providing therapy to children in the schools as well as outpatient family therapy. She also worked at Psychological Centers in RI, providing intensive in-home services for children and their families. Currently, she works as an outpatient child and family therapist at Child and Family Agency's Child Guidance Clinic in New London, in addition to her work at Connecticut Adoption and Family Services. Ms. Allbee is available to work with families in southeastern Connecticut.

Rebecca Butman, LCSW
Rebecca Butman joined Child Adoption Resource Association in the winter of 2009. She has a BA from Connecticut College in Sociology and Human Development and received her MSW in 2004 from Boston University. Ms. Butman interned as a school social worker and as an adoption social worker while receiving her masters. Prior to joining our staff, she worked as a clinical social worker with foster children at Casey Family Services. She has written home studies, taught modules in the PRIDE classes, provided case management for foster families and matched foster children with families. Ms. Butman is available for work in New Haven and Fairfield counties.

Mary DiGioia, LCSW
Mary DiGioia joined Connecticut Adoption & Family Services in the summer of 2004. Ms. Digioia earned a B.A. in Sociology from Trinity College and an M.S.W from Boston College of Social Work. She previously worked for over 17 years at another private adoption agency where she conducted home studies, counseled birth parents, supervised children in foster and adoptive care, provided search and reunion services, and supervised staff and interns. Ms. DiGioia attends regular continuing education conferences. Ms. DiGioia is available for work throughout the greater New Haven area.

Allyson McCue Foerster, BS
Ms. Foerster has been with Connecticut Adoption & Family Services since 2002. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Relations with a concentration in Childhood and Adolescent Counseling. She has also taken some courses towards a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Ms. Foerster does home studies and PPSP work at Connecticut Adoption & Family Services. She was previously employed as a case worker and social service coordinator for Headstart, Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, and a housing program. She is available for work in the southeastern Connecticut and shoreline areas.

Victoria Elizabeth Johnson, BA
Victoria Johnson joined Connecticut Adoption & Family Services in April, 2009. Ms. Johnson graduated from Manhattanville College with a BA in Early Childhood Education and English in 2005. She has worked with children and teens ages four through seventeen; from the preschool HeadStart program of New London to a DCF group home in Noank. Her work has included the creation of a program that connected lower socio-economic children with age appropriate community and cultural activities. She currently teaches K through third graders. Ms. Johnson is available for supervised visitation and parenting work in Eastern Connecticut.

Kathleen M. Kastrup, LCSW
Kathy joined the staff of Connecticut Adoption & Family Services in the summer of 2007. Prior to moving to North Carolina in 2003, Kathy was a regional director of adoption services at a Connecticut agency for 17 years. While living in North Carolina, she was a contractual adoption social worker with four agencies and conducted homestudies, provided post placement services and was a birth parent counselor. Kathy is also on staff with an international adoption agency and provides adoption services to American families living abroad. Kathy received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Mt. St. Mary College and her Master of Social Work Degree from Southern Connecticut State University.

Timothy Kastrup, BS
Tim Kastrup earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in education from the University of Rhode Island in 1992. Prior to his joining Connecticut Adoption & Family Services, Tim was employed at a Connecticut social service agency as a case manager and supervisor with responsibilities in Empowering People for Success and Connecticut Works programs. Tim provided intensive home-based case management to Connecticut’s most vulnerable families, supervised Employment Specialists, and worked collaboratively with the Department of Labor and Department of Children and Families during his ten years with the agency. In 2007, Tim became a fulltime parent and re-entered the workforce by joining Connecticut Adoption & Family Services in 2009. Tim’s responsibilities with Connecticut Adoption & Family Servicesinclude supervising visitations with birthparents and their children in state foster care, re-licensing DCF employees as foster and adoptive parents, and providing homestudy services to clients wishing to adopt from domestic and international programs. He is available for assignments in Eastern Connecticut.

Ali Lacey, MA
Ali Lacey joined Connecticut Adoption & Family Servicesin January 2005. She received a BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Connecticut and graduated from the University of New Haven with her MA in Community Psychology. Ms. Lacey worked with children and adolescents as a clinician at Waterford Country School for almost five years and as a family support coordinator for the WCS’s Therapeutic Foster Care Program for two years. As a family support coordinator she was responsible for training and licensing foster parents using the PRIDE curriculum and writing home studies. Ms. Lacey is a licensed foster parent through DCF. She is available for work in Eastern Connecticut.

Eileen Manela, LCSW
Eileen Manela joined Connecticut Adoption and Family Services in January 2010. She received her Masters in Social Work in 1986 from New York University. She has additional post masters training from the Ackerman Institute for Family Therapy. Ms Manela has worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for fifteen years, has been in private practice and has conducted home studies in New York prior to her move to Connecticut. Currently in private practice in Litchfield, she works with a wide range of patients focusing on life transitions, adjustment disorders and relationship issues. Ms. Manela has experience working with pediatric and adult populations as individuals, couples, and families. Ms Manela is available for clients in Litchfield County and throughout the Northwest corner of Connecticut.

Susan L. Parrotta, LCSW
Susan joined the staff in June 2007. Ms. Parrotta has a B.A. in Psychology a Master's degree in Social Work from The University of Chicago and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1996. She has worked in private adoption since 1993 and has conducted homestudies, finalized adoptions, provided post placement supervision, facilitated support groups for waiting parents, trained foster parents, counseled birthparents and provided search and reunion services for adult adoptees and birthparents. Ms. Parrotta's experience covers children of all ages due to her work with children adopted both internationally and from the welfare systems of other states. Ms. Parrotta is available for work in Hartford county.

Virginia Rupy, MA
Virginia Rupy joined Connecticut Adoption & Family Services in the summer of 2005. Prior to joining Connecticut Adoption & Family Services, Ms. Rupy worked as a certified school counselor at various schools, including Norwich VoTech./Grasso VoTech, Mitchell College, and Cutler Middle School. Ms. Rupy received a Masters degree in Agency and School Counseling from the University of Rhode Island in 1981 and is a licensed school counselor. Ms. Rupy received a Bachelors degree (BA) in Applied Social Relations with a concentration in social work from Eastern Connecticut State College in 1976. She has also been trained in attachment theory and practice by Daniel A. Hughes, an expert in the field, (January '08 3 day conference).
Ms. Rupy is an adoptive parent of two children. During the process of adopting her children, she started an adoptive parent support group. Ms. Rupy is available for work in the Southeastern Connecticut area.

Lisa Sherwood, BA, MS
Lisa Sherwood joined Connecticut Adoption & Family Services in the summer of 2005. Prior to joining Connecticut Adoption & Family Services Ms. Sherwood worked as a caseworker for Champaign County Youth Services in Illinois. Ms. Sherwood provided individual and family counseling, crisis intervention and advocacy services to a population of troubled youth and their families. In 1987 Ms. Sherwood received a Certificate in Paralegal Studies at Fairfield University. Ms. Sherwood earned a Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis in 1977. Her Masters degree is in speech therapy. Ms. Sherwood does home studies, post-placement services, and is in training to provide birth parent services. Ms. Sherwood is available for work in Southern Connecticut.

Margret Simon, MS
Marge joined Connecticut Adoption & Family Services in November 2009. She received her BS in Allied Health Services from University of Connecticut and practiced physical therapy in Southeastern Connecticut for twenty five years. Ms. Simon then returned to school and earned a MS in Early Childhood Education and a Ct teacher certification in Regular and Special Education for children from birth through grade three. She taught preschool special education for ten years at Connecticut College Children’s Program. She worked with typically developing children as well as children with identified special needs including autism, reactive attachment disorder, Down syndrome, and pervasive developmental disabilities. Ms. Simon is experienced in teaching developmentally appropriate social skills and language to promote pro social behaviors. She worked closely with children’s caregivers to provide consistent expectations for children. She has a special interest in working with families of children with developmental or medical issues. Marge is available to work with families in Southeastern Connecticut.

Caitlyn Steele, MSW
Caitlyn Steele joined Connecticut Adoption and Family Services in October of 2009. She earned her B.S. in Social Work at Syracuse University and her Master's in Social Work from Columbia University. Caitlyn is currently a Clinician at Child & Family Agency of Southeastern CT Child Guidance Clinic in the Adolescent Program. Prior to working in the Child Guidance Clinic, she was a Clinician in CFA's Intensive In-home Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services working with children 3-18 with mental health disorders that were significantly impacting their functioning. Caitlyn's position at Connecticut Adoption and Family Services is in Permanency Placement Services Program. She is available to serve the Southeastern Connecticut.

Kathleen Svedarsky, LCSW
Kathleen Svedarsy joined Connecticut Adoption & Family Services in May 2008. She graduated with her BS in Social Work from Southern CT State University and her MSW from The University of New England in Maine. Ms. Svedarsky worked for ten years with incarcerated women in Connecticut providing individual and group counseling, conducting mental health assessments and facilitating crisis interventions. With the majority of women in prison being mothers, she also assisted clients with various parental issues that included how best to care and provide for their children while incarcerated to termination of parental rights and other permanency issues. Ms. Svedarsky has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2002. She is available for work in Eastern Connecticut.

Nora Villani, MA
Nora Villani joined the staff of CT-Adoption and Family Services in the summer of 2005. Ms. Villani received a Masters degree in Counseling, Human Services and Guidance from Montclair State University in New Jersey. She was previously employed as a Program Coordinator for the Office of International Studies at Montclair State, where she served the international community by developing study abroad and exchange programs. In 1996, Ms. Villani earned a Masters Degree in Teaching German Language and Literature from Janus Pannonius Unversity in Pecs/Hungary. Ms. Villani provides home study services at the agency. She is available for work in the Hartford area.

Cynthia Woodis West, MA
Cynthia Woodis West joined the Connecticut Adoption & Family Services staff in March 2006. Ms. Woodis West earned a B.A. in Psychology from Vermont College of Norwich University and an M.A. from Vermont College of Union Institute and University. Ms. Woodis West presently works as a consultant for CT Emotional Wellness Center. She provides training and coaching in personal and professional effectiveness. Ms. Woodis West is also an adjunct professor of psychology at Manchester Community College. Ms. Woodis West previously worked as a social worker with the Department of Children and Families. She provided assessment, support and interventions to families affected by abuse and/or neglect. Ms. Woodis West is available for work throughout the greater Norwich area.

Maggie Wood, MSW
Maggie Wood joined the Connecticut Adoption & Family Services staff in February 2005. She earned a B.A. in psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University and her M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut. Ms. Wood presently works as a school social worker for Natchaug Hospital’s Joshua Center. She is also employed part-time as a mental health therapist at Integrated Behavioral Health. Previously, Ms. Wood worked for Waterford Country School as a foster care coordinator. While at WCS, she did some PPSP work for DCF. Ms. Wood’s primary role at Connecticut Adoption & Family Services will be to provide bilingual services and home study services. She is available for work in Eastern Connecticut.

Laura Smallridge Work, LCSW
Laura Smallridge Work joined Connecticut Adoption & Family Services in March 2006. In 1998 Ms.Work received her B.A. in Psychology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. In 2001 she earned her M.S.W from Simmons Graduate School of Social Work. Ms. Work currently works as a school social worker. She provides individual and group counseling to special education students. She has 4 years of experience as a clinical social worker providing crisis intervention, and support and guidance for children and families. She has also worked particularly in international Chinese adoption. She is available for work in Southeastern Connecticut.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF:

Kerri Cherrette, Family Recruiter
Kerri Charette is a mother of five; one of whom came home through adoption. A teacher by training, she earned a B.A. in elementary education from the University of Connecticut (1992) and went on to earn a masters degree in teaching reading and language arts from Eastern Connecticut State University (1999). After teaching in the Ledyard Public School system for almost ten years, she found her passion as an adoptive family recruiter which allows her to educate individuals, couples, and families about the process of adoption. Kerri is a columnist for the Thames River Times (Life in Ledyard) and the Four County Catholic (Family of Faith) and is a contributing editor of Misadventures of Moms and Disasters of Dads parenting anthology (Moms in Print, 2004). She also hosts the weekly cable television show Families in the Making. Kerri has appeared numerous times on local television and radio stations to educate viewers and listeners about adoption as well as having her written work published in both Adoption Today and Adoptive Families magazines. Named “Mom of the Month” by iparenting.com, Kerri has appeared in Women’s Day Magazine, Family Circle, and Real Simple.

Maren Lauder, Bookkeeper.

Francesca Villani, Office Manager

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Agency News

Sep 16, 2009 - Families Needed:
We are now looking for Connecticut parents to adopt infants of all races, including African-American, through private domestic adoption. The waiting period has become much shorter over this past year, so domestic adoption has become a more viable option for many. As always, we are also seeking families to adopt CT state foster children through our grant-funded program "Project CT's Child".
May 1, 2009 - Check out the Heart Gallery
If you are considering adopting a child from the state foster care system, please visit the "Heart Gallery", a moving exhibit featuring portraits of waiting children. We can help you adopt these and other foster children. You can view these photos at: www.heartgalleryct.org
Apr 17, 2009 - Visit Us on Cable TV
If you live in Southeastern CT, please check out our public access TV show "Families in the Making". The schedule is listed on the section of this website titled: Visit Us on Cable.

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Child Adoption Resource Association :: Eastern CT: 2 Union Plaza; Suite 300; New London, CT 06320; 860-444-0553; director@adoptacarakid.org