We have one social worker, one social worker supervisor, and two adoption preparation & training specialists:
Social Worker: Mary Burke.
Mary is on an independent contractor basis to serve as the Agency’s New York State licensed master social worker. Ms. Burke’s educational credentials include a B.S. in psychology, and an M.S.W.. As the social worker, Ms. Burke conducts a home study of the applicant and reports on such study in accordance with NYS and USCIS requirements, and the appropriate foreign regulatory authorities; and, further, provides the social work supervisor with a final draft of the home study report.
Social Worker Supervisor: Kathoucha Edouard.
Kathoucha is a New York State licensed clinical social worker and serves as social work supervisor. Ms. Edouard’s educational credentials include a B.A. in English, and a Master of Social Work (“M.S.W.”). As the social work supervisor, Ms. Edouard provides oversight and review of the work of the Agency’s independent contractor social workers, including oversight of the home study process itself, review and approval of the home study report and any addendum to the written summary, and review and approval of any post-placement supervisory and post-adoption reports; provides oversight of the monitoring process after a child has been placed with an applicant until finalization of the adoption in state court in New York (such post-placement supervision takes place in cases where the country of origin requires that the adoption be finalized in the United States); and, further, if necessary because of disruption before finalization, assists the executive director to assume custody and provide (or facilitate the provision of) child care or any other social service pending an alternative placement.
Adoption Preparation & Training Specialist: Kathoucha Edouard and Dr. Ida Jeltova.
Dr. Jeltova, who earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a licensed clinical psychologist, and Ms. Edouard, who, as previously mentioned, earned an M.S.W. and is a licensed clinical social worker, are well qualified to serve in these capacities.
