ABOUT US
THE ADOPTION CHOICES OF OKLAHOMA DIFFERENCE
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is a leader in the adoption community. The agency has assisted birth parents, children, and adoptive families in Oklahoma for over 19 years. As a private adoption agency, Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is licensed by the state of Oklahoma.
Adoption Professionals
The center’s staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized adoption experience to all involved in the adoption process. Our professional staff of Adoption Choices of Oklahoma work closely together and remain available to all parties.
Adoption Network
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma networks on a local, regional, and national basis to communicate with expectant parents. The agency operates an ongoing, comprehensive and cost-apportionment program, which significantly reduces the waiting time from completed home study to placement.
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma also works closely with adoptive families and expectant families who have matched outside of the agency. The designated program offers all the same services except for the outreach and cost-apportionment.
Open Adoption
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma supports the concept of open adoption but also understands that individuals vary in the level of openness they are most comfortable with. We work closely with the expectant families to determine their desires in adoption and then works to match with adoptive families open to the same type of contact. Adoption Choices of Oklahoma remains flexible in order to satisfy the requests and needs of expectant parents and adoptive parents. We understand that adoption is different for everyone.
Our team is looking forward to working with you as you set out on the journey of adoption.
MEET OUR STAFF
Natalie Turner
Executive Director
Natalie Turner has worked in the Social Services field for most her career. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and feels that her life’s calling is to work directly with birth parents and adoptive families.
“I believe that my role in the adoption process is to assist the birth parents with stability, available services, and emotional support/guidance through their choice of adoption. I feel that it is my role with adoptive families to guide them through the adoptive process” Natalie says.
Natalie worked as a Birth Parent Counselor for Adoption Choices of Oklahoma for over two years. In this role, she made sure that birth parents and adoptive families feel respected during the adoption process, and she made sure everyone receives all the needed information. Natalie says her family tells her that she tries to save the world. She says she isn’t trying to save the world – she is only trying to make a life long positive impact on the people and families she encounters.
Natalie became the Executive Director for Adoption Choices of Oklahoma in 2016. She continues to work closely with birth parents and adoptive families while also building relationships with other agencies and assisting and training staff as they work with families.
Kirsten Mcgonigal
Child Placement Supervisor
Kirsten McGonigal holds a duel Masters of Social Work and Public Health degree and has a wide range of experience. Seeking to empower the individuals she works with, she assists them in creating sustainable solutions. She is very knowledgeable in the social services arena and maintains close connections with several other community agencies.
Kirsten worked as a Birth Parent Counselor for Adoption Choices of Oklahoma for 18 months prior to taking on additional roles as the Child Placement Supervisor. As the Child Placement Supervisor, Kirsten assists families navigate the world of adoptions by writing home studies and reviewing adoptive family applications. She also remains available to serve birth parents during their time of need while also helping them to problem solve on their own.
Abra Coleman
Birth Parent Counselor
Hi my name is Abra Coleman and I’m a birth parent counselor with Adoption Choices of Oklahoma.
Markia Hines
Birth Parent Counselor
Heather Hope
Home Study Specialist
Heather Hope holds a Master’s degree in Applied Sociology. She has worked in the Social Service field for over eleven years, nine of which have been for Adoption Choices of Oklahoma (ACO). Heather worked in the foster care field in Florida prior to joining ACO as a birth mother counselor. She started writing adoption home studies for the agency in 2012 and also worked for two years as ACO’s Child Placement Supervisor.
Heather eventually found that her passion was working directly with adoptive families. She feels that she has a wide range of experience that helps put her clients at ease as they navigate through the adoption process. Heather believes that the adoption process can be very stressful for some families and her goal is to alleviate some of that stress by answering questions, providing resources, and being there for her clients every step of the way.
Jessica Baxter
Home Study Specialist
Jessica Baxter has a passion for working with both birth parents and adoptive parents. She strives to ensure all parties achieve their goals within each individual adoption experience. Jessica also has experience as a Birth Doula and Parent Educator. This makes her particularly sensitive to the needs of mothers and babies during labor, delivery and postpartum.
“I am proud to offer both birth parents and adoptive parents a level of care that is unparalleled in Oklahoma and a hallmark of Adoption Choices of Oklahoma,” she says.
Jessica has experience working with traditional and non-traditional families as a Birth Parent Counselor. She is endlessly inspired by the diverse families she serves and is available to birth parents in any ways they need.
Robin Mayerhoefer
Executive Assistant, Office Manager
Hi my name is Robin and I’m the Executive Assistant and Office Manager with Adoption Choices of Oklahoma.
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If you are an adoptive parent, please click HERE.