Alex graduated with a Master's in Social Work from the University at Buffalo and is a Licensed Master Social Worker in New York State.  Alex has worked for many years with youth in the child welfare system, including in group homes, with youth who have aged out of the system, and counseling youth in foster care and post-adoption.  Alex is passionate about advocating for changes in child welfare policy that will help foster youth achieve permanency and stability.  Alex is very excited to be working with Adoption STAR's A-OK program to help older kids find forever families!  Alex enjoys calligraphy and singing along (off-key) to Broadway musical soundtracks.  Alex is from New Jersey but currently lives with her husband in Buffalo, NY, where they like to visit hipster coffee shops, go hiking, and play tabletop games together.

Almeida is an Adoption Social Worker and Family Advocate for Adoption STAR’s A-OK Program. Almeida received her Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Human Services and Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University at Buffalo. Almeida found her enthusiasm and drive for the field of child welfare through her graduate level courses and internship at Adoption STAR in 2021.

Almeida has worked with at-risk youth through her positions as an assistant teacher, inclusion specialist, and lead poisoning consultant. Almeida loves working with families who want to grow their family through adoption and expresses the utmost gratitude and appreciation for being able to be a part of their adoption journey. Outside of work, Almeida enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading suspenseful thrillers, and going to Knox Farms for long walks.

Becki is a licensed social worker in New York and New Jersey. She earned her master’s in social work degree from Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey and earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Houghton College in Houghton, New York. Becki and her family moved to western New York in March of 2012 after having lived and worked in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area for 20 years.

Becki has worked in the field of adoption since 1996. Most of her efforts have focused on special needs adoption, including finding homes for children in foster care who had emotional and behavioral challenges. Becki also worked with children adopted internationally, many having high medical needs.

Christine is a social worker, who works with prospective adoptive and adoptive families at Adoption STAR, completing home studies and post placement visits. She graduated with a Master's in Social Work from Rutgers University and is a Licensed Master Social Worker in New York State. Christine began her career as a social worker, conducting evaluations and providing therapeutic services to children and families. She has spent much of her career in the field of health care working with patients, providers, and community-based organizations advocating for equitable, affordable and accessible health care.

Christine resides in Albany, New York and is happy to be a part of the Adoption STAR team.

David is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-R) who works as a consultant for the Adoption STAR A-OK Program and provides counseling through the Family STAR Post Adoption Department. David delivers education, support and assessments for clients of the agency especially interested in older child adoptions. He brings over 30 years experience working with children, families and parents both as a therapist and workshop trainer.

David worked for Baker Victory Services in Buffalo for 28 years, most recently serving as the administrator for the mental health services provided by the agency.

David is a Social Worker that works with potential adoptive families through Adoption STAR, completing home studies and post placement visits.  He has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Buffalo State College and a Master’s from SUNY Albany.  David has worked with children, adolescents and adults across the spectrum of community based, residential and inpatient.  David is a certified foster parent and has experienced emergency placements for short term and those freed for adoption.  Additionally, David is the Chief Officer of Behavioral Health for Northern Rivers Family of Services and has a private practice in Albany New York.

Eilleen works per diem, conducting pre-adoption home studies, as well as post placement visits.  Eilleen acquired a Bachelor of Social Work from Buffalo State College and a Master or Social Work from SUNY at Buffalo and is a Licensed Master of Social Work.  Eilleen entered the field of social work with a strong desire to help children, particularly abused, neglected and disadvantaged children, and to make a difference in their lives to enable them to grow into well adjusted adults.

The bulk of Eilleen’s work history has pertained to the wellbeing of children.  She has worked in the field of social work in numerous capacities including residential adult mental health, case coordination in the field of child sexual abuse, child mental health therapy, foster care and adoption social work, social work in the NICU of Sister’s Hospital, and in the law guardian office at The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo as a social worker.

Eilleen is the mother of a teen daughter and son.  She takes pride and finds much joy in watching them grow and flourish.  Eilleen enjoys spending time with them, and doing various fun activities like berry picking in the summer, watching  movies, and going for long walks.  Eilleen has a very exuberant yellow lab named Luna who she enjoys taking for walks daily.  Eilleen also walks for physical and mental fitness in her free time to relieve stress and enjoy the outdoors.  She also enjoys puzzles, shopping, gardening, and spending time with friends and family.

Meg is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York. She obtained her master’s degree in social work from the State University of New York at Buffalo after completing her undergraduate degree in social work from the State University of New York at Fredonia.

Meg has worked within the adoption field for many years, working with families through their international adoption journey from initial inquiry through post adoption. Meg is the International Adoption Coordinator, overseeing our international home study programs in NY, OH and FL.  As an avid speaker and educator, Meg also frequently speaks at adoption related conferences, provides adoption related workshops for families, as well as providing pre and post adoption counseling.

Meg’s experience as a social worker also includes working with children with social emotional disorders and/or behavioral challenges and their families. Her volunteer work includes working to provide humanitarian aid to children living outside of family care.

Meghan writes home studies and provides post-placement services in the NYC/Long Island area, for families pursuing adoption through Adoption STAR. Meghan began her professional career working in Child Welfare where her role was primarily focused on reunifying children with their parents after safety concerns had been identified. When families were unable to be reunified, it allowed foster families the opportunity to grow by becoming adoptive parents and adopting the child, giving them safe and permanent forever homes. Watching families reunite was rewarding, and being a part of adoptions was extra special.

After dedicating six years to child welfare, Meghan decided to return to school and received her MSW from SUNY Stony Brook in May 2020, and in January 2021 became licensed in NYS. She is excited to get back to her roots of working with families and being a part of their journey to adopt. When Meghan is not busy social working, you can find her at the beach, spending time with family and friends, dancing at concerts, or nose deep in a book.

Melissa is a home study social worker, who works with families looking to adopt through Adoption STAR.  Melissa completes home studies and works with families during their post placement phase.  Melissa has a BA in Drama as Therapy from Hamilton College, an MS in Behavioral Science from Cameron University, and an MSW from the University at Albany.   Melissa has worked in human and social services for over 40 years.  Melissa has worked with inner city children and families using her degree in Drama to create opportunities for communication and education. Melissa has worked in residential and foster care, in mental health as a Coordinator of Education for the Mental Health Association of New York State, in government services as a Child Protective Investigator for the Comanche County Department of Social Services in Oklahoma, and as a school social worker in the Berlin CSD.

Melissa is a mother of two adult children, one of whom was adopted. Melissa and her husband enjoy acting and directing in community theater in the Capital Region.

Rachael is responsible for supervision of services within the adoptive parent domestic infant programs including the interpretation and assessment of policies and the supervision of personnel assigned to the department. Rachael shares the Family Advocate role with a team of dynamic and passionate professionals by providing support to adoptive families of Adoption STAR from their first steps of the process and throughout their adoption journey.

Rachael received her master’s degree in social work from Case Western Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences and her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Buffalo State College.

She became a licensed social worker (LMSW) in 2007 and a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in 2016.