EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

MEG STERCHI, ACSW, LCSW

Meg Sterchi, a founder and the executive director of ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in the area of adoption. She has more than 25 years of experience in the fields of mental health and social work focusing on children and families, mental health, and education. For the last 12 of those years she has focused on working with birth and adoptive families, preparing and supporting them throughout the adoption process. She also has personal experience with adoption, as an adoptive mother. It was this personal experience that led her to open ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA.

Meg’s work focuses on the clinical issues surrounding private and international adoption. Meg firmly believes that adoption is a loving alternative to an unplanned pregnancy and is dedicated to the education and preparation of adoptive families and to the continuing improvement of the public's perception of adoption. She is guided by her philosophy that a major focus of adoption agencies should be to prepare, support and educate all parties involved in an adoption. Children are best served by parents who are well prepared to understand and deal with adoptive issues that arise throughout the adoptive lifecycle.

Meg is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers. She received her MSW from Indiana University School of Social Work and her BA from Purdue University.

She enjoys cycling, traveling, sailing, and other water sports with her family.

Meg, her husband, David, and their two sons Grant and Gavin feel blessed to be a family joined together through adoption.

Meg can be reached at: msterchi@ad-in.org

ADOPTION SPECIALISTS:

JULIE BARNES, BSW, LSW

Julie Barnes is a graduate of Indiana University School of Social Work. She practiced in both Oklahoma and Indiana working with elderly, indigent, and disabled before coming to work with ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA in 2002 to work with birth and adoptive families.

Julie has a special place in her heart for adoption. She is an adult adoptee with a loving adoptive family and a relationship with her birth mother.

Julie feels that families who are comfortable with their child’s history are able to have a fantastic future. She stresses the importance of honesty and “owning your parenthood” when counseling couples on adoption. “I am very fortunate that my parents were not intimidated by the adoptive process, they had very little information about my birth mother and they were supportive about gaining more,” Julie states. She draws on her personal experiences to assist adoptees with search and reconnection.

Julie and her husband, Barry, have three children, Dylan, Claudia, and Brett. They enjoy many family activities including movies, sports, reading, biking, and outdoor activities.

Julie can be reached at: jnbarnes@ad-in.org, , she currently works Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-3.

NATALIE STEVENS, MSW, LSW

Natalie Stevens received her Master’s degree in Social Work from Indiana University School of Social Work and has worked in the mental health field for several years. Her past experience includes, case management and clinical work with special needs children and adolescents, advocacy work with the severely mentally ill, and crisis intervention counseling.

Natalie is also a birthmother who placed her son Jacob for adoption 16 years ago, at the age of 17, in a closed adoption. Natalie believes adoption is a positive option when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. She is incredibly thankful to her birth son’s adoptive parents for caring for him in ways that she could not at the time of his birth. Natalie is glad to be using her experience and empathy to work with other birthmothers who are going through the same experience. Natalie has the unique ability to truly understand what an expectant mother is going through when making an adoption plan for her child. It is a very difficult decision and she is happy to be there through a birthmother’s journey from the discovery of an unplanned pregnancy through placement to provide support and understanding.

Natalie’s future goals include writing a children’s book on adoption from a birth mother’s perspective, volunteering in India with impoverished children and families, traveling to Europe again, and starting her own interior design business.

Natalie and her husband Perry enjoy spending time with their close friends and family, traveling, hiking, cycling, and kayaking. Natalie herself enjoys gardening and interior decorating. Natalie and her husband hope to be adding a child to their family soon.

Natalie can be reached at: nstevens@ad-in.org

COORDINATOR OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICES:

JENNIFER MORRISSEY, MSW, LSW

Jennifer Morrissey started working in the field of adoption in 1999 and quickly discovered her passion for adoption. She began working in domestic adoption, but when a need came for someone to take over the international programs, she quickly learned about the possibilities with international adoption, and what joy it was to find homes for orphaned children. Through her international work, Jennifer has had the pleasure and opportunity to travel around the world.

Jennifer received her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas and her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. She loves working with families in every stage of the adoption process, seeing them through the various stops on the adoption journey to becoming a forever family. She believes in the value of education, and being prepared to parent a child according to their individual needs.

Jennifer enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with family. She and her husband, Lawrance, have two children, Aidan, and Alyssa.

Jennifer can be reached at: jmorrissey@ad-in.org

OFFICE MANAGER:

KAREN SOBOL

Karen Sobol works part-time as our office manager.  Karen has several years experience as an office manager/administrator.  She brings to our office a desire to serve and assist our families and to juggle the various administrative responsibilities.

Karen and her husband, Gary, have three children.  Their sons, Phil and Mike, are grown and live out of state.  Their daughter, Kirsten, is in high school. 

Karen enjoys reading, outdoor summer activities, traveling and extended family times with children and grandchildren.