Our Staff
ADMINISTRATION
Lesley Siegel |
Executive Director and Founder, has 32 years of experience in the field of Child Welfare. Lesley completed an undergraduate degree with a focus on Child Development. She was a Senior Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of California where she assisted teens with developmental disabilities. After completing law school, Lesley began a practice serving the best interests of children and has since touched the lives of hundreds of children who need families. In 1995, she founded Across The World to assist with adoptions from other countries. |
Debra Parelskin |
Social Work Supervisor, has 34 years of social work experience. Debbie completed an undergraduate degree in psychology. She then graduated with a Master's of Social Work in 1977. She worked for ten years with Alameda County Social Services, a public child welfare program and then for a year with Children's Home Society and another three years with a private adoption organization promoting open adoptions in the United States. Since 1999, she has worked in both domestic and international adoption, with both case work and administrative responsibilities. Debra is the co-author of "My Special Family," a book for children about adoption and is also a foster parent. |
Stacy Brown |
Adoption Coordinator, has been providing support for families, children and client service since 2004. She began her career in health services and then worked with people with developmental disabilities. She has served as a child photographer and then as an office administrator. Stacy supports families through all aspects of the adoption process. She was a volunteer at an orphanage in Latvia. |
Heidi Andrews |
Bookkeeper, graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1986. She began work as the Vice President of Finance for a mortgage company until leaving to raise her children. Heidi now works part time to support the bookkeeping operations of several businesses. |
CONTRACT CASE WORKERS
| Annette Ashe | Graduated with a combined Bachelor's degree in Social Work and Sociology. She completed her Master's of Social Work in 1988 and is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has worked in health services since 1980 and continues her career at a local hospital while also pursuing her work in adoption for the past five years. |
| Irma Breakfield | Received her undergraduate degree in psychology, then obtained her Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1990. She is now a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice. She has been working in adoptions since 2006. She has also been an Instructor and Consultant of Psychology, an addiction therapist, the coordinator of a mental health program and a radio host. |
| Annette Eastman | Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology. She obtained her Master's in Social Work in 1971 and is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Annette worked in foster care from 1974 until 1996 when she began work with an open adoption program. She now works as a social worker, providing the benefit of her 35 years of experience to several adoption agencies. |
Emma Johnson |
Completed an undergraduate major in sociology (emphasis in criminal justice) with a minor in psychology. She worked to reunify families and as a counseling intern for five years. She then obtained her Master's of Social Work and began a focus on international adoption. She has a license as an Associated Clinical Social Worker. |
Darcy Kennedy |
Received her undergraduate degree in psychology and her Master's of Social Work in 1994. She has worked as a family, substance abuse and mental health therapist, as well as a clinician for a city community services board. In 2001, she began a career in international adoption, working with several adoption agencies. She is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. |
Linda Lipscomb |
Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in psychology and her Master's of Social Work in 1992. She worked with children for the County of Los Angeles for seven years while also developing a private practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has focused on her clinical practice for the last ten years, including contract work in the field of adoption. |
Margaret Ryerson |
Completed her undergraduate degree in education and a Master's of Science in Counseling in 1971. She worked as a school counselor for over 20 years, a therapist in a hospital and as a psychotherapist in private practice. She has several education credentials as well as a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Margie now provides adoption services as well as maintaining her private practice. |
Melissa Sipolt |
Completed an undergraduate degree in psychology with a double minor in ethnic studies and women's studies. She graduated with a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology in 2000. Melissa has worked in mental health services and counseling including a group home for adolescent girls. She worked for four years in early childhood mental health and as the director of a community based program for at-risk families. She is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist with a private practice and also provides services for international agencies. |
| Pam Steele | Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in psychology and English. She completed a Master's in Interpersonal Communications, with a family systems therapeutic emphasis. She has additional coursework in clinical psychology (substance abuse emphasis) and Marriage and Family Therapy. Pam has 29 years of clinical experience working with children, adults and families, including 17 in the fields of adoption, foster and kinship care. She has worked for both domestic and international agencies. |
| Penelope Witt | Received an undergraduate degree in psychology and completed her Master's of Social Work in 1974. She has worked in health services, with the developmentally disabled and in hospice settings, as well as adoptions. Her 18 years of domestic and international experience in adoption has been with both public and private agencies. She is a substitute teacher as an adjunct to her adoption work. |
