Lynne Silver (formerly Lynne Jacobs)
I am a native San Franciscan always loving the beauty of the city and the diversity. My BA was in Youth Guidance and Counseling from UC Davis. I completed my MA in Counseling Psychology and knew that I wanted to work with pregnant teens. I was a high school counselor specializing in developing good understanding between different cultural and ethnic groups. My work in adoption began in 1973, and I spent nine years in Hawaii; I will always have the love and commitment for this beautiful place that is in my heart forever. I taught child development and adolescent psychology at the college level, and developed a successful adoption practice. I founded ADOPT in 1984 with the hope of creating an agency that was open-minded, non-judgmental and educational. Teaching others about adoption is my passion. It is an amazing feeling being part of helping people become parents and families that are growing by adoption.

I am honored to work with a great staff and people committed to healthy adoptions. As a Hague compliant agency, and having been involved in the early meetings at the Department of State, we are dedicated to the principles that protect quality services.

I am an adoptive parent of three, now all adults, and have the personal experience with domestic adoption, international and foster care. I am a strong supporter of older youth placements. Being a grandmother is the absolute best!

Lisa Clark, M.S.W, Assistant Director
I convinced ADOPT to hire me in 2001 and have been in love ever since. I have a Bachelors degree in Social Welfare and African American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s degree in Social Work. I am part of an adoptive family and bring with me years of academic research in the field of adoption.

I run our Domestic Program, Hawaii office and am also our Assistant Director. I love empowering birth mothers to create the type of adoption that is right for them. And of course the Love Party is one of my favorite days of the year!

Anna Zhao, M.S.W, China Program Coordinator
I am a native San Franciscan and love living in the foggy city. I speak Cantonese fluently. I earned a Bachelors Degree in Social Work and minor in Asian American Studies from San Jose State University, and Masters Degree in Social Work from San Francisco State University. I have been with Adopt since 2005 in the Refugee Foster Care Program. In Fall of 2008, I started to focus in the International adoptions. I specialize in China adoption, Domestic and International Home Studies and Post Placements. I am also a USCIS (Immigration) liason. I LOVE when adoptive parents bring their kids to our office for a surprise visit. Always surprises!!

Jeanetta Mandadjieva B.A., Social Worker, Korea and Eastern Europe Coordinator
I have a BA in Psychology from the University of Sofia, Bulgaria. I discovered my passion for helping orphans find loving families in my junior year when I volunteered at an orphanage in my home city, Burgas. I joined Adopt International’s team in March of 2007 as the assistant of the Director of International Adoptions and later worked in the Refugee Foster Care program. I love the opportunity to be able to help families throughout their entire adoption process – from the first call to us, through the home study, immigration approval to the post placement visits.

Jamie Cole, B.A., Domestic Program and Kidsave Program Coordinator
At the University of California, Berkeley, I earned my degree in Mass Communications/Media studies because my interests are many and it provided a lens through which I can study almost anything. When I first heard about Adopt Internationals work, I was enthralled and jumped on board as a do-it-all intern. I’ve worked full time since graduating and have yet to pass a day without learning something new. I am challenged and enriched through my supportive roles to birth parents and adoptive parents alike, in both domestic and international adoption. In addition to helping Lisa run our domestic program, I am our Nepal Program Coordinator and I run our Summer Miracles Kidsave program for older Colombian orphans. Although there are many, my greatest reward is being able to guide and support birth parents through one of the most important and difficult decisions of their life.

Sharon Kemper, M.S.W, Supervising Social Worker
Since receiving my MSw, I have been in the field of adoptions for most of my 40 year social work career. I have loved working with families, from the home study process, through the placement of their children, during the post placement period — and sometimes beyond. At this time in my life, I am enjoying dividing my time between work and the things I love to do – traveling, skiing, biking and spending time with my family and friends.