Melissa Canterbury, LMFT

Coordinator of the Adoption Center

Melissa Canterbury is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, in 2005 she joined the staff of the Adoption Center of the MidSouth as a part of Adoption Support and Preservation program (ASAP) . She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Harding University in Searcy, AR. Melissa currently provides counseling and support to adoptive families in West Tennessee who have adopted youth formerly in the state foster care system and is a trainer in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi for the Infant Adoption Training Initiative. Melissa's former experience includes being the Child and Adolescent Counselor for Lookout Mountain Community Services in North Georgia, a family counselor for the TREK program (Therapeutic Resources and Environment for Kids)- a therapeutic foster care program for Lookout Mountain Community Services. She is interested in attachment issues with children and their families; couples therapy, and grief and loss. She is excited to be working with individuals, couples, and families whose lives have been touched by adoption.

Amber Davis, MSSW

Family Advocate/Administrative Assistant

Amber West was born and raised in Memphis, TN. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in December 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She will begin her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Tennessee in Memphis in June of 2006. Then she plans on working toward her licensure. Amber enjoys working with children and is very excited about working for The Adoption Center of the MidSouth as the Family Advocate.

Claire DePriest, MSSW

Adoption/Maternity Services Social Worker

Claire DePriest grew up in north Mississippi and moved to Memphis in 2005 after receiving a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Freed-Hardeman University. In 2007, she received a Master of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Tennessee. Prior to moving to Memphis, Claire served as a mentor for the West TN Children’s Home and gained volunteer experience teaching children. In Memphis, she initially worked with the Exchange Club Family Center as a co-facilitator of groups for children of divorcing parents, child witnesses of domestic violence, and teenage girls needing assistance with anger management. As the Adoption/Maternity Social Worker at AGAPE, Claire works with birthparents to help educate them on their rights and their options in the event of an unplanned pregnancy. For birthparents who choose adoption, she assists them with the process and provides support. She also works with approved adoptive families to help them find and adopt waiting children. Claire serves the Adoption Center of the Mid-South as a social worker, and she enjoys working with birth families and adoptive families to help create healthy homes for as many families as possible.

Rebecca Ellis, MMFT

Family Counselor

Rebecca Ellis is one of the family counselors for the Adoption Center of the MidSouth where her role is to provide assistance for individuals, couples, and families affected by adoption. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Christian University in Family Studies and then received her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Abilene Christian University. During her time in Abilene, she had the opportunity to counsel individuals, couples, and families in different areas such as anxiety and depression, marital counseling, play therapy, parenting, and more. Rebecca also has interests and experience in working with siblings of children with autism, grief counseling for children and families, and counseling children from inner cities. Rebecca comes to us from Fort Worth, Texas, along with her husband Marcus Ellis. She grew up in a family with biracial adopted twin brothers, one adopted sister, and two biological brothers. Because of her experience and family background, Rebecca is looking forward to working with those who are touched by adoption.

Jesse Faris, ,MA

Coordinator of the Infant Adoption Training Initiative

Jesse Faris, MA was born and raised in the northeast before her family settled in Atlanta, Georgia. After receiving a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies (with a focus in Adolescent Programming) at Auburn University in 2002, Jesse moved to Memphis to pursue a graduate degree. She received a Master's of Arts from Harding Graduate School of Religion in 2005. Jesse first worked with teenagers within several organizations and then worked as an administrative assistant before joining The Adoption Center of the Midsouth in December 2007. She currently coordinates the Infant Adoption Training Initiative in West Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas in addition to organizing monthly Adoptive Family Support Groups for ASAP (Adoption Support and Preservation). She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with The Adoption Center and to provide education and support to individuals and families touched by adoption.

David Jordan

Executive Director

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.  David is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who, over the course of his career, 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.   

Under his leadership as Executive Director of AGAPE Child and Family Services, they served 8,003 children, adults and families in 2005.

Christie Kerschbaum, MMFT

Family Counselor

Christie Kerschbaum was born in Michigan and was raised in upstate New York and Tennessee. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University in Missions and Psychology, she went on to do campus ministry in northern Thailand for 1 1/2 years. After returning to the U.S., she worked for a non-profit organization in Memphis that treated at-risk youth and their families. She grew to love the complexities of working with families and gained an interest in intercultural adjustment issues. She then received her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Abilene Christian University. She has traveled extensively to India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Laos, Japan, Switzerland, Czech Republic, England, and Canada. Christie has particular interests in attachment issues, bonding, intercultural adjustment, culture shock, couples therapy, and grief and loss. She is excited to work with individuals, couples, and families whose lives have been touched by adoption.

Michael McDonald, LCSW

Director of the Adoption Center

Michael McDonald is the Coordinator of The Adoption Center of the Mid South. 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, Little Rock, AR and was an Alcohol and Drug Treatment technician at Southeast Community Treatment Center, Salem, MO. He also worked in the Domestic Violence program and parenting program at Exchange Club/AmeriCorps Program in Memphis, Tennessee. He facilitated group, individual, and family therapy at Compass Intervention in Memphis. 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.

Carolyn McKinney, MS

Family Therapist

Carolyn McKinney, M.S. joyfully works as a Family Therapist for Agape Child & Family Services with the Adoption Support and Preservation Program (ASAP), in the West region of Tennessee. She attended and received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from The University of Memphis. Carolyn has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Counseling (Community/Agency concentration). She currently provides therapy and support to families whose lives have been touched by adoption, with a goal of building and maintaining a healthy and happy family life. Carolyn’s previous professional counseling experiences include working as a Teacher Counselor and Family Counselor for Youth Villages; Child & Youth Case Manager for Frayser Family Counseling; and as a Masters level counseling intern for The Exchange Club Family Center. She has great interest in working with children and their families who are struggling with issues of emotional/behavioral problems, attachment/bonding, grief and loss, depression, and abuse. Carolyn is currently pursing licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She believes that she is truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful Christian organization.

Jennifer Talley, CMSW

Family Therapist for Adoption Support and Preservation

Jennifer began at the Adoption Center of the MidSouth as a Masters level social work intern in August 2007. In November 2007, Jennifer became part of AGAPE's staff as a Family Therapist for Adoption Support and Preservation (ASAP). Jennifer serves in both the Pre-Adopt and Post-Adopt services offered by the agency. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Mississippi State University and her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Tennessee-Memphis. Jennifer has worked as an intern at the Department of Children and Family Services in West Point, Mississippi and at Pathways in Jackson, Tennessee. Jennifer is very excited about serving the people of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Jason White, MS

Family Counselor

Jason White graduated from Freed Hardeman University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling.  He plans to pursue licensure in the state of Tennessee and continue his education by eventually completing a Ph.D in Marriage and Family Therapy. Jason has extensive work experience.  He worked at Omni Visions for 3 years and Pathways Mental Health as a Case Manager for 5 years. Jason has worked with the Adoption Center of the MidSouth as an ASAP Family Counselor since July of 2005.  Jason was born in Jackson, TN and lives with his wife, Marsha, in Medina, TN. They are members of Campbell Street Church of Christ. 

Kevin Wood, MS

Family Counselor

Kevin Wood obtained his Master's Degree in Counseling and Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, TN. Kevin was employed from 2001 - 2004 at The STAR Center in Jackson, TN as a Vocational Assessment Evaluator. In that position, he helped individuals with disabilities explore vocational options based upon their physical and mental capacities. Kevin has experience working at The Exchange Club’s Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Agape Child and Family Services in Memphis, TN. Kevin works full time in the Jackson, TN office where he is a Family Counselor for the Adoption Center of the MidSouth’s ASAP program. He has two additional roles at Agape as a Clinical Therapist and as a Continuum Case Manager. Kevin specializes in working with families (including adoptive/foster families), couples, individuals in therapy, and children. Kevin will begin working towards attaining his Licensed Professional Counselor/Mental Health Service Provider designation in 2006.

Alisha Worthey, MS

Family Counselor

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 Counselor. 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.