|
David Jordan is the Executive Director of AGAPE
Child and Family Services in Memphis &
Jackson, TN, a position he has held since August
1995. He received a Master of Science degree
in Social Work Administration and Planning from
the University of Tennessee. Over the course
of his career, David, has worked as a counselor,
family therapist, supervisor, program
administrator, and agency director in the human
services field. Specializing in services to
children and families, he has worked extensively
in the public and private sectors and in both
government and faith-based
agencies.
Director of the Adoption Support
Center
|
|
Director of the Adoption Support
Center |
|
Michael McDonald is the Director of The
Adoption Support Center. He obtained a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Psychology from Harding
University in Searcy, Arkansas. He went on later
to obtain a Master’s in Clinical Social Work
from the University of Tennessee College of
Social Work. Michael has years of clinical and
adoption social work experience, allowing him to
better understand adoption and the special needs
that adoptive families may have.
He
served as an intern at Pinnacle Point Hospital
and was an Alcohol and Drug Treatment technician
at Southeast Community Treatment Center. He also
worked in the Domestic Violence program and
parenting program at Exchange Club/AmeriCorps
Program. He facilitated group, individual, and
family therapy at Compass Intervention. In
addition, he worked as a medical social worker
for LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center, dealing
with abuse and bereavement issues. Michael also
provided special needs adoption case management,
counseling and support as the Coordinator for
the adoption and maternity services program at
AGAPE Child and Family Services, Inc.
Clinical
Supervisors
Karen Ratliff,
LMSW Clinical Supervisor of the
Adoption Support Center, Memphis |
|
Alisha Worthey, MS |
Clinical Supervisor of the Adoption Support
Center, Jackson |
|
Alisha Worthey joined Agape Child and Family
Services, Inc. in January 2008. She is employed
full-time in the Jackson, TN office in the ASAP
program as a Family Therapist. Alisha earned a
Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology with
a minor in Social Work from Freed-Hardeman
University in 1994. She later returned to FHU to
complete a Master’s of Science degree in
Counseling, graduating in 2005. Alisha was
employed as a Vocational Assessment Evaluator
for five years at Madison-Haywood Developmental
Services and for nine years at The STAR Center
in Jackson, Tennessee. As a vocational
evaluator, Alisha assisted individuals with
emotional, physical, and mental disabilities to
explore work and/or training options that would
lead them to successful vocational placements.
Alisha has completed a practicum at The Exchange
Club Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of
Child Abuse and at The STAR Center in the Art
Therapy Program.
Family Advocate
Family Advocate
Anna was born and raised in
Memphis, TN. She just graduated from Harding
University in May with a Bachelor’s Degree in
Spanish. She is currently applying to medical
schools and hopes to one day be a pediatrician
or family physician. Anna works as a Family
Advocate and as the IATI Specialist for the
Adoption Support Center.
Family Therapists
|
|
|
|
|
Family Therapist
George
Kohlbacher III,
joined
the Adoption
Support
Center
this July as a family therapist. He has worked
for Agape Child and Family Services since May of
2004. Formerly, he worked as a family therapist
in the family preservation program at Agape.
George received his Master's in Counseling from
Harding
Graduate
School
after receiving his Bachelor’s degree in
Psychology from the University of
Buffalo.
George is excited to be working with families
that have been touched by adoption. George and
his wife, Debbie are the adoptive parents of two
young boys themselves. George enjoys traveling
with his family, reading, and collecting
Superman memorabilia.
Hannah Coffman, MS |
Family Therapist |
|
Hannah Coffman, M.S. joined
AGAPE Child and Family Services in November 2008
with the Adoption Support and Preservation
program (ASAP). She has a Bachelor’s degree in
Psychology and a Master's degree in Counseling.
Hannah currently provides therapy and support to
adoptive families in West Tennessee who have
adopted youth formerly in the state foster care
system. Hannah's former experience includes
interning with Youth Villages as a family
therapist, the STAR Center as a vocational
evaluator and at West TN Children’s Home as a
group and individual therapist for teenagers
placed in state’s custody. Prior to joining
Agape she was a counselor for the students of
the Tennessee Technology Center in Jackson
advising students along their educational and
vocational path. Hannah resides in Henderson
along with her husband and two Pomeranians. She
thanks God for the opportunity to work for a
Christian organization and for her co-workers
that exemplify His vision.
|
Jayna
Butler, MS
Family
Therapist
Jayna Butler, M.S. joined
the Agape Child & Family Services team, July
2010 as a Family Therapist for the ASAP Program
in Memphis.
She received her undergraduate degree in
Psychology from the University of
Tennessee-Knoxville and a Masters degree in
Counseling from Capella University in
Minneapolis, MN. Her
former experience consists of Case Management at
Park
Center
– Nashville and
Career Counseling at Tennessee Community
Services Agency’s Employment Solutions
Program. Her interests include,
client-centered therapy and enhancing career and
academic development for adolescents in
crisis. She is a member of the
Upper
Room
Church
– Memphis, TN, where her
father (Elder Marshall Butler) pastors and a
proud mother of a beautiful
daughter.
|
Julie Hill, MS |
Family Therapist
Julie
Hill MS joined the Agape Child and Family
services team in July of 2010 as a Family
Therapist in the ASAP program in Memphis TN. She
graduated from Freed Hardeman
University
in 2004 where she received her
Bachelor’s of Science degree in
Psychology with a
minor in Sociology. She then obtained her
Masters degree in counseling from Freed Hardeman
University
in 2007. Julie has previously worked for over
six years providing direct care services as well
as group, family, and individual therapy within
various programs for Youth Villages. She
began at their Deer Valley residential
treatment facility in Linden
TN
in 2004.
Here she focused on providing treatment
for juveniles with emotional and behavioral
problems.
She also worked with the Transitional
Living program for youth who were transitioning
out of state’s custody and were learning to live
independently in the community and with the
Community Based Program where she provided
treatment for youth in a group home setting who
were working to reintegrate back into the
community.
|
Mallory Morris,
MSSW
Family
Therapist
Mallory Morris MSW joined the
Agape Child and Family services team in June of
2010 as a Family Therapist in the ASAP program
in Jackson TN. She attended Freed Hardeman
University
where she received her undergraduate degree in
social work (BSW) in 2008. she then attended
Union University
where she obtained her Masters in social work
(MSW) in 2010. Mallory has completed a practicum
at Jackson Madison county General Hospital with medical
social work, as well as practicums at the
Washington Douglass Head Start and Pathways
Mental
Health
Center.
She has worked as a contract social worker for
Professional Health Services and an in home
Intercept family counselor for youth villages.
Mallory is a native of Doniphan, MO but currently lives in
Jackson, TN with her
husband. She is excited about working with
children and families who are effected by
adoption as well as working for a Christian
organization.
Nini Harrell,
LMSW |
Family Therapist
Bio coming
soon |
|
Tawanna Ballard,
LMSW
Family
Therapist
Tawanna Ballard, LMSW joined
Agape in June 2010 as a family therapist in the
ASAP program. She works full-time in the Jackson
Tennessee office. Tawanna received a Bachelor’s
degree in Psychology from the University of
Tennessee
Martin and a Masters degree in
Social Work from the University of
Tennessee. She was
employed from 2006-2009 with the Tennessee
Department of Children’s Services as a
Permanency Specialist. Tawanna worked to
identify families for children who were legally
free for adoption in the foster care system. She
is also a veteran of the U.S. Army where she
served four years on active duty. Tawanna enjoys
mentoring young women and teaching them biblical
principles of everyday
life.
Family Therapist/HART/HMHF
Willie
graduated from University of
Tennessee
with a Masters in Social Work in 1993. He
has been working with AGAPE Child and Family
Services, Inc. for over 10 years. He has
been married for over 35 years and has two grown
children. Willie works with the Adoption
Support
Center in
the areas of training couples/families in
communications and assessments for DCS in
adoption cases. In addition to that he has a
part time private practice in general
counseling. He specializes in family
relationships, communication and anger
management. He enjoys traveling and
movies.
|
| | | | |
