Adoption Associates, Inc: Domestic Infant and International Adoption Agency

Jane Bareman

After graduating from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, with a B.A. degree, Jane worked as a secondary education teacher and then was fortunate to spend several years as an at-home mother before she started at AAI shortly after its founding in 1990. A licensed social worker with a social science background, Jane has been able to serve AAI in a variety of capacities under several different position titles throughout her years at the agency. Promoted to executive director in 2004, Jane now oversees all of AAI’s operations. “It’s very rewarding to be part of bringing family to couples through adoption,” says Jane. “Since God first adopted us into His Kingdom, it’s exciting to watch His work continue through the adoption of children into stable families. What a blessing!”

Outside of work, Jane stays busy with her family, which includes her husband, four married children, and four grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, music, and participating in various responsibilities at her church.

Betsy Zdonek

Betsy has worked in the adoption field for over 30 years and has supervised the domestic adoption program in our Jenison office for the past five years. Betsy has a special passion for birth mothers; in her role at AAI, she enjoys getting to know them and helping to resolve their pregnancy crisis. Betsy has been married to Don for 30 years, and they have two daughters and two sons-in-law. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with the family, being outside, gardening, working out, and traveling.

Betsy admits that working with women experiencing unplanned pregnancies can be emotional and stressful at times, but she says the outcomes for all parts of the adoption triad (birth parents, adoptive parents, and baby) make it worthwhile.

Sara Stahl

Sara works with adoptive parents in the completion of their home study and other requirements for their adoption. She holds a master's degree in social work and has worked in the adoption field for twelve years. Sara began her adoption career at Adoption Associates, Inc. as a case aide—and has had the opportunity to work in many different capacities, including serving as a birth parent and adoptive parent social worker. Sara and her husband, Troy, live with their three sons—Camden, Brett, and Gavin—in the Holland area.

Says Sara, "I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to play a role in the building of families, and I am touched each time by how God brings birth parents and adoptive parents together for one purpose—their baby!"

Shelly Nibbelink

Since 1996, Shelly has worked at Adoption Associates, Inc. as a pregnancy caseworker. She helps birth parents through the adoption process from initial decision making to post placement followup. She also leads the monthly Birth Parent Support Group meetings in the Jenison office. Shelly and her husband Mark make their home in Jenison, where Shelly enjoys reading, playing piano and tennis, and gardening.

"Choosing adoption is an extremely difficult choice for a birth parent," Shelly says. "It is my goal to help them through the process with compassion and in such a way that they feel they are making the best decision for their child's future and their own. I pray that they realize what a loving and courageous decision they are making."

Alla Dickson

Alla has a master's degree in education and worked as a teacher in Russia before she moved to the U.S. in 1996. Alla's life took a turn in 1993 when she met the Walker family. They were one of the first AAI families who adopted a Russian child, and in 1996, they sponsored the immigration of Alla's family to the United States. At that time, Alla was hired to develop the Russian program at AAI, starting as coordinator, then manager—and in 2002, she became AAI's Director for our Russia program.

"I believe that it is a beautiful miracle when children are united with their adoptive parents," says Alla. "But there is another one—every family is a small bridge between our two wonderful countries, and we have so much to share that can enrich our cultures!"

Alla lives in Holland with her two daughters and says, "I greatly enjoy being a part of the AAI team—a phenomenal group of people, who are absolutely dedicated to adoption."

Mary Zoet

Mary joined our AAI team in 1996, after enjoying her time as an at-home mother and six years teaching elementary school. In 1999, Mary was promoted to the position of International Consultant, where she began to use her college degree in sociology and psychology from Hope College; she also has a degree in elementary education from Calvin College. In her 10 plus years as a consultant and program manager, Mary has facilitated hundreds of adoptions from around the world. As a former educator, Mary explains that she most enjoys educating her clients in the many issues surrounding international adoption.

In her words, "I believe that each successful international adoption is a miracle. It may be fraught with ups and downs and difficult pitfalls, but as I have witnessed over and over again, the end goal of an orphan finding a loving family is well worth the journey."

Chandra Criffield

Chandra joined AAI in 2003, after working as a caseworker for Kent County's Head Start program. She graduated from the University of Michigan, earning both a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in social work. Her passions include reading, scrapbooking, writing in her journals, and listening to music.

Her life was personally touched by the miracle of adoption when her two beautiful cousins were adopted from Guatemala in 2003. Chandra says she's blessed to share in the lives of AAI's families.

Jia Ling He

Jia Ling He (“Jean”) has been an educator for 25 years. She has a bachelor’s degree from Northeast Normal University and received the Highest Honor as a high school biology teacher. She has always been a dedicated child advocate and believes that every child needs a loving and permanent home. Jean has served as the honorary director of the Shuanyashan Ai Xin Children’s Welfare Institute and has strong relationships with many orphanages throughout China.

Larissa Koedyker

Larissa joined AAI in May, 2007 as a Russian consultant. She has a master’s degree in education and worked as an English translator for many years before moving to the U.S. from the Ukraine with her daughter in 2005. Larissa has always dreamed of working for an adoption agency because of her experiences visiting orphanages in the Ukraine. "I’m very glad God gave me the opportunity to join AAI’s team,” says Larissa. “I hope to help children worldwide find loving parents in the U.S., and by doing so, I hope to help change the lives of their families in a wonderful way. It’s such a blessing to make one more child in this world happy."

Larissa lives in Holland with her husband, who is originally from this area, and her daughter, who attends Hope College. She and her husband are also adoptive parents themselves, as they have adopted a daughter from Ukraine. In her spare time, Larissa enjoys reading, bicycling, playing tennis, and traveling.

Sally Mouw

Returning to AAI in 2004 after staying home with her children for three years, Sally Mouw now builds on her previous five years of experience with birth moms and adoptive couples at Adoption Associates, Inc. Her background includes a bachelor's in social work and six years as a crisis pregnancy counselor before coming to AAI.

Sally makes her home in Holland, Michigan, with her husband, Jeff, and three children. "Adoption has always been a passion of mine," says Sally. "It is so rewarding to take part in God's process of building families through adoption. I feel honored to witness dreams being transformed into reality."

Mary Beth Tanis

Mary Beth joined Adoption Associates in 2003 as a consultant and shortly after moved into the role of Adoptive Family Caseworker. She helps families complete their home studies and provides post adoption support to adoptive families after the adoption is completed. She also co-teaches the Trans-racial/ Trans-cultural Training course provided at the agency. She holds a bachelor's of social work degree from Calvin College and a master's of social work degree from Grand Valley State University. She is also a licensed master social worker in the State of Michigan.

Mary Beth and her husband make their home in Jamestown, Michigan. They have been married over 11 years and are in the process of adopting domestically. Besides making a home for her family, Mary Beth enjoys serving on her church’s worship team, baking, scrapbooking, and traveling. Mary Beth feels honored to be working in the field of adoption and is humbled every time a family experiences this miracle. Mary Beth says, “There are no words to describe the blessings the adoptive family and the adopted child receive because of the adoption. What an amazing thing to experience!”