| Executive/Administrative Staff |
Debbie Hug
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debbiehug@adoptionaccess.com |
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Executive DirectorLicensed Child Placement Administrator
| I started Adoption Access in 1992 with the purpose of providing more extensive counseling to birthmothers. I have a Master’s of Science in Social Work and served as executive director of another licensed child-placing agency prior to founding Adoption Access. Having served on the clinical staff of a Dallas psychiatrist, providing group and individual therapy, this was an interest and background I felt were underused in the adoption field. I have also had a private practice that included biofeedback services for Children’s Medical Center. I even had a doll manufacturing business at one time. I am a former board member for the Texas Association for Infant Mental Health and The Family Place, a wonderful resource, including a shelter for abused women and children. Adoption work is the most rewarding field in which you could ever hope to find yourself. It is a perfect fit for me, and I love everything but the hours. It is a privilege to be part of such a profound time in someones life, both birthparents and adoptive parents and of course the children. I have tremendous respect for the young women who make such a painful and courageous sacrifice, so their children can have the best in life. I also believe strongly in the great gift adoptive parents provide. In over 1,000 adoptions we have had only a handful of adoptive parents who have divorced. This is a huge gift of stability and love. I stay in contact with a great many of my birthmoms and parents so their gifts keep on giving to me. I also have an incredibly loving and hardworking staff that is like family to me. Thank you for your interest, and we hope we can provide you with some answers to your questions and concerns. |
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Brooke Mizell
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brooke@adoptionaccess.com |
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Operations Director
| Brooke has had a passion for the adoption field since high school. She has several personal connections to the adoption field including her brother who was adopted from Africa. After graduating from Baylor University in 2001 with a Marketing International Business Degree, Brooke began to work as a birthmother counselor for Adoption Access. In 2004, she pursued her adoption career for International Adoptions in Russia and Ukraine. It was in 2008 that Brooke began to work for Adoption Access once again, but this time to work with the adoptive parents. Her current role includes working with adoptive families with post placements and preparing them for finalizing their adoptions. Brooke is a great asset to Adoption Access and each adoptive family she works with!When not busy at Adoption Access, Brooke is very busy at her home with her family. Brooke and her husband, Aaron, have two children, Mason and Madison. |
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Pricilla McCollum
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pricilla@adoptionaccess.com |
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Administrator
| Pricilla McCollum graduated from Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas. Her most recent experience has been working in the administrative field for 4 years in the real estate industry. She also has 3 years of experience working in accounting handling payables and receivables. Pricilla also has two children and they live in the Dallas area. She has been with Adoption Access for several years now, and is always so compassionate and caring to our birthmothers. She makes sure the ongoing contact between adoptive parents and birth parents goes smoothly. We are grateful to have her as a part of Adoption Access! |
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Mary Lindsay
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mary@adoptionaccess.com |
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Mary is a Virginia native who has lived in Texas for twenty years and a 2007 graduate of University of Texas-Dallas, with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology. She completed her internship with Adoption Access and knew immediately this career path was what she wanted to pursue with her education. Mary’s passion for adoption and working with birth mothers is somewhat unique. She has a long relationship with Adoption Access, first as a birth mother of identical twins, then having completed her internship, and as a wonderful addition to our counseling staff. Mary is an incredible counselor, and I hope you will watch her video on the home page. Having been a birthmother herself, she knows what this journey is like, and having her as a partner throughout it is a gift. She truly does understand, and there is no one who cares more.
Mary brings a refreshing perspective to the team since she has been a client, intern and counselor. She is passionate about the opportunities that prevail for both the birth mother and the adoptive parents, and recognizes the importance of making great life choices. She looks forward to being a positive influence/role model for birth mothers and their families on what you can achieve if you believe in yourself.We are very lucky to have her at Adoption Access. She is a special person. |
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Carolina Salazar
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carolina@adoptionaccess.com |
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| Carolina was born in the United States and was raised in Guatemala. She received a Bachelor’s & Master’s degree in Social Work. It was while completing her practicum for her Master’s degree that she discovered her passion for adoption. In 1991, Carolina relocated to Dallas with her husband and their 6 children were she has continued to work in the adoption field, primarily with the Hispanic population.Carolina not only has a passion for adoption, but also has a passion for helping women in all situations. She currently gives some of her time working with mothers who have delivered at an early stage of their pregnancy at Parkland Hospital. Carolina is also very active in the community working at the Angel’s Clinic, were free pre and post natal services are offered and also Project Gabriel, a mentoring program for pregnant women.Carolina has worked in the adoption field for 22 years, and has grown to love it more each day! She is a wonderful contribution to our agency and is very appreciated! Carolina is our angel. She has more patience and love than I have ever seen in one person. Her birthmoms love her, and they feel very cared for by her. We adore her. |
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Debby Christian
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debchristian@adoptionaccess.com |
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| Debby joined the staff of Adoption Access in 2004 initially to help our staff and clients with support and transportation needs. She immediately blossomed into an invaluable asset to our entire staff, birthmothers, and adoptive parents alike. Having been adopted herself, Debby has a keen insight and understanding of adoption that our birthmothers and adoptive parents undoubtedly need. Her consistent advice and support are an underlying factor of the agency’s success. She is here to step in and help with a smile in every capacity of the job, and her positive attitude is a driving force behind successful placements. Debby has the capacity to help in each and every situation, and her devotion to and love for our clients is immeasurable. In addition to her availability 24 hours a day, literally, she is currently pursuing her degree with a specialization in Family Studies. She also has a true life dedication to her family, and she and her husband raise their precious son Kevin. Debby touches people’s lives, and our clients are lucky to have her on the receiving end of a phone call. We are indebted to her service and dedication, and Adoption Access functions better because of her. Please check out Debby’s video on our home page. I think she has a very special message for birthmoms. Debby believes each mom she works with is full of promise, and she works very hard to help them move forward in the most positive ways. |
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Heather Lowrey
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Fostercare Coordinator |
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| Heather works with our nursery moms and dads to keep all records up to date. Babies need temporary care from time to time, and our nursery moms do not work for the state. They only work for Adoption Access, and keep only one or two babies at a time. We license our own families, but the state reviews your work. |
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| Pregnancy and Adoption Counselors in Houston |
Somer Doyle
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somer@adoptionaccess.com |
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| As a counselor in the Houston area, Somer joined the Adoption Access staff in 2010. She grew up in North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She graduated with a double Bachelors in Psychology and Criminal Justice in 2008. After graduation, in search of something new, she relocated to Houston, Texas. She plans to get her Masters in Psychology in the future. Somer brings compassion, understanding and enthusiasm to her position at Adoption Access and is very excited to have joined the staff! Somer has shown so much dedication to her clients, and it was clear early that she had made the right career choice. She will very definitely be a great suppport system for you, and I have never met anyone who wasn’t comfortable around her. She just likes and respects people, especially her clients, and it shows. I know you’re in good hands with her.Click here to listen to a message from Somer. |
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| Jessica Phillips |
jesscia@adoptionaccess.com |
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Jessica is also a counselor in Houston for Adoption Access, and she has both persona and professonal experience with adoption. You will find her to be warm and caring, and able to answer your questions and provide you support. Our counselors will support you in your decisions, and help with resources to provide you a healthy and safe pregnancy. Jessica is adopted and has tremendous respect for birthmoms and the courageus decision they make for their children. She understands the loss and the sacrifice. |
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| Rose Tarin, our Pregnancy and Adoption Counselor in El Paso, TX. |
Rose Tarin
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rose@adoptionaccess.com |
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| As a Counselor to the agency in the El Paso area, Rose began working for Adoption Access in October of 1998. She has a Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from Webster University and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from University of Texas at El Paso. Additionally, Rose possesses fifteen years of experience working with Head Start, the homeless, and at-risk youth in the El Paso area. Because of her expensive background and experience in social work, Rose is a natural for adoption work. She has been wonderful in connecting birthparents to other resources that can help them go forward with their lives. Adoptive parents don’t need our help parenting, but birthparents often do need our help beyond placement. The counseling is always available to them, but they may need help in other areas of their lives. Making a difference for young people in difficult situations is something Rose has been doing for a long time. We are very happy she is doing this for us now. She is a very nurturing and caring person, and her birthmoms adore her. Rose is very beautiful, inside and out, and has made a positive difference in the lives of so many. She will help you in any way she can, and I promise she will make this experience less scary for you. She has a wonderful effect on people that way! |
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| Alma, our Pregnancy and Adoption Counselor in San Antonio, TX. |
Alma Diaz
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alma@adoptionaccess.com |
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| Alma joined Adoption Access in 2008. She is originally from Puerto Rico, and speaks fluent Spanish as well as English. She is also a US. Army veteran. In 2003 she received a Bachelors in Social Work from Auburn University, Alabama. Her experience includes working for Head Start program as a family service worker and also center manager. Her passion for adoption started in 2004 when she started working as a birthparent counselor with another agency in the state of Georgia. After moving to San Antonio with her husband and children she started working for Adoption Access. Alma is not only a counselor but an advocate for her birthparents. She shows great passion and dedication into helping birthparents through their adoption journey. Alma’s often tell us that her work comes from her “heart”. Alma does indeed bring all of her heart to her work. I know of a Christmas that Alma spent with a birthmom so she would not be alone, and I know she missed her own Christmas that year. She will give you her time and her heart and help you in any way she can. She is very dedicated and caring/ |
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| Amy, our Pregnancy and Adoption Counselor in East Texas |
Amy Henderson
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amyh@adoptionaccess.com |
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| Amy Henderson is our counselor in East Texas, and Amy has both personal and professional experience with adoption. Amy brings tremendous compassion and energy to everyone. Again, your counselor is for you, and you will have complete confidentiality with her at all times. |
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| Child Placement Staff-Adoption Consultant |
Jenna Howard
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jenna@adoptionaccess.com |
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| Jenna Howard earned her BS in Psychology from Abilene Christian University. She obtained her MS in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington and then earned her LMSW. She has worked in the adoption field since 1994. In addition to working with adoptive parents and birthmothers, Jenna is also an adoptee. Adoption has blessed her life and she loves helping families become blessed by adoption. She and her husband, Mark, have three sons. |
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| Elivia, our Birthmom Hotline Counselor |
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Elivia Earle
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elivia@adoptionaccess.com |
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Elivia joined us in 2008 as our after-hours Phone Counselor. She is very excited about her position at Adoption Access, Inc., and brings an amazing compassion and dedication to Birth Mothers. She is the counselor that is there for you when you need to speak to someone right away, or you have a question, or a concern. She is always there for us. We know if someone goes into labor, or just needs a shoulder to cry on, Elivia will be there to thelp. She is incredibly sweet and everyone feels better after they talk to her. Elivia is from Southern California and speaks Spanish
fluently. She spends her free time with her husband and enjoys reading.Click here to listen to a message from Elivia. |
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| Nursery Care Families |
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Peggy
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peggy@adoptionaccess.com |
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| Peggy and her husband Gary are one of the Nursery Care families at Adoption Access. They joined our agency in 2004 and have fostered over 60 babies since that time. Peggy has always had a love for babies/children. At age 11 she was the most sought after babysitter in the town where she grew up! Throughout her adulthood she has done volunteer work for various organizations involving infant care, worked in the church nursery, done in home childcare and has cared for several of their 11 grandchildren! Besides her love for children, she has a strong interest in the field of medicine and is a Certified Medical Assistant. Licensed by Adoption Access through the state of Texas, Peggy & Gary are rarely without a child in their home. The love and commitment they have for children is obvious to any observer. We are grateful to have them as a part of the Adoption Access team! |
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Jim and Jeannette
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| Jeannette and Jim have been foster parents for 27 years to 177 infants. Some have blessed their home for simply an overnight visit waiting for their family to arrive, some have required hospital visits by Jeannette and Jim for months while they grew big and healthy enough to come home and some have blessed their home for a year or so. Most of them come and go in just a few short weeks. Each child is a special gift to them and they cherish their time with them and look forward to hearing from their “forever” families as they grow. Many of their most treasured friendships have been built through adoption. Jim suffered a massive stroke in 2006 and is still in speech therapy, but spends most of his time helping with the babies. Jeannette has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and Development. She was a teacher for many years and worked several years teaching women who gave birth to low birth weight babies how to care for them and how to improve their own lives. Jim and Jeannette have had many special need babies over the years and truly enjoy the challenge of meeting their special needs. |
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