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.

Dick Van Deelen

Dick founded Adoption Associates, Inc. in 1990, after serving for 21 years with Bethany Christian Services. He has extensive experience at all levels of adoption, pregnancy services, and other child welfare services. In founding AAI, Dick's goal was to promote adoption unequivocally as the plan of choice for both birth mothers and babies when untimely pregnancies occur. This emphasis has been an important factor in the tremendous growth and success of the agency.

Retired from the position of Executive Director in July 2004, Dick currently works part-time as a consultant to the agency. When advocating for adoption, he is frequently heard to say, "Adoption is the most life-transforming act in the human experience short of Christian conversion."

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!"

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."

Beth Mulligan

Beth joined Adoption Associates, Inc. in July 2004. She holds a masters degree in social work from Western Michigan University and has been working in social work for over six years. Beth is married and has four children, ages: 19, 16, 15, and 12. In her spare time she enjoys running, reading, watching movies, and knitting. Beth feels that her greatest accomplishment in her life is her children.

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."

Chandra Doorn

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.

Michelle Dykema

Michelle joined AAI in the spring of 2001, after spending several years at home as a full-time mom. She holds a BSW and MSW in social work, and she says she chose a career in social work out of a deep desire to help others, with the plan that she would one day work in the field of adoption. Michelle has three children, including Avery, who was adopted in 2005. Her hobbies and interests include reading, cooking, hiking, and camping.

"I have been interested in a career in adoption since I was 14 years old, when my parents adopted the first of my two brothers from the country of Korea," says Michelle. "I am now so thankful for the opportunity to assist in God's awesome plan for making families by adoption."

Alla Goncharova

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 four years as a consultant, Mary has assisted in the placement of over 120 children 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."

Kimberley Batts

Kim joined AAI in 2001, and now works as a program manager for families adopting from Ethiopia and Guatemala. Kim graduated from Calvin College with a bachelor's degree in sociology. Before coming to AAI, Kim worked for four years at a respite center for physically and developmentally challenged children and adults.

Kim's background in caring for those with developmental disabilities has taught her that each and every child is special and deserves a chance, no matter what the circumstances; she feels it is wonderful to be able to play a part in helping a child who might not otherwise have had the chance to have a family and to find his or her permanent home.

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.

Mary Beth Tanis

Mary Beth joined Adoption Associates in January 2003. She holds a bachelor's of social work from Calvin College and a master's of social work from Grand Valley State University. Her experience includes working with non-profit agencies to empower church volunteers to make a difference in their communities. She has done so with the GRACE office in Grand Rapids, MI, and with Good Samaritan Ministries in Holland, MI. Mary Beth lives in Jenison, MI, and has been married to her husband for nine years. She enjoys serving with her church's worship team, baking, cooking, decorating her home, traveling, and reading cooking magazines.

Mary Beth is motivated to work in adoption, as she desires to make a difference in the lives of orphans and in the lives of families who are adopting.