The Adoption Support Center looks to it's voluntary advisory board for vision, guidance and support. The Advisory board is made up of the following agencies and individuals:

Agape Child and Family Services

David Jordan, MMSW

Bethany Christian Services of West Tennessee

Elizabeth B. Burton, Executive Director

Previously, she worked for Bethany Christian Services in Atlanta, Georgia, as a pregnancy counselor, foster care specialist, and then as a domestic adoption specialist. Her education background is in the area of counseling.  Elizabeth is passionate about orphan care and adoption, and she is thankful for the opportunity to serve in her role and advocate for children in the Memphis area and world-wide.

Debra Kirkwood, MSSW

Catholic Charities

Anne McInnis

Jewish Family Services Adoption Connection

Penny Glatstein

Life choices

Sue Parker, Chief Executive Officer

Sue has a Masters in Counseling fromLiberty University

She has served as the President for the West Tennessee Council of Adoption Agencies, she is an Adoption Support Center Advisory Committee

Member, She serves on the One-by-One Ministries Advisory Board and is a Host, For Life and Liberty, a weekly news and information program on Bott Radio Network AM640 WCRV.

 Sue has deep convictions regarding the sanctity of all human life and a strong stance for the protection of the unborn.  She finds great joy in counseling young women planning for their unborn child – whether that plan is parenting or adoption.  She also has a compassionate desire to assist those who have been impacted by a past abortion.

She began her tenure at Life Choices in 1999 as a counselor to young women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.  In 2002, she moved into the Child Placement Director position and worked with families seeking adoption through Life Choices.  In 2005, she assumed the responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer.

 

Judith “Judy” McLaughlin, Director of Adoption Services

 

When women come to Life Choices and make an adoption plan for their baby, Judy’s goal is to have couples available and waiting to accept that precious baby into their family. As the Director of Life Choices’ Adoption Services, Judy recruits and prepares families to adopt. She also recruits and trains cradle care families, Life Choices’ interim foster care program. Judy supervises the placement of babies in the cradle care home and adoptive home. She follows the family through the entire adoption journey and is available to provide post adoption services even years later. Judy has a Master’s Degree in Counseling with over twenty years experience in the adoption field, working with older and special needs children, international and newborn adoption. She is a native Memphian and attended the University of Memphis . Judy is married with one adult daughter.

 

TN Department of Children's Services

Merlene Hyman, Regional Administrator Shelby County

Mary Harris, LMSW Shelby County Permanency Team Leader

Weaver & Craig, P.C.

Kevin Weaver

Youth Villages

Melinda Wilbanks, BASW Adoption Specialist

The Advisory board provides support to the Adoption Support Center by being available, committed and consistent. They provide guidance through their unsolicited opinions, recommendations regarding services, and their expertise. They provide resources through the promotion of the Adoption Support Center, referrals to the Adoption Support Center, by sharing information and training opportunities, and by providing services and monetary resources as well.