Executive Director
For more than 25 years Darlene has devoted her professional career to improving the lives of abused and neglected children. Darlene has worked in both public and private organizations in a variety of professional positions. She has received national recognition for her advocacy for adoptive families. Darlene leads a number of state initiatives focused on foster care and adoption. She also participates on several national adoption and child welfare committees and initiatives.
Darlene believes that all children have strengths and deserve opportunities to succeed. She believes that children do best when they have loving, committed families. The programs and services she designs and manages are dedicated to providing those opportunities. No child should age out of foster care, no child should be left behind.
Darlene received her Bachelors degree from Providence College. She holds a Masters Degree in Human Service Administration from University of Massachusetts, Boston. Darlene enjoys painting, hiking and going to the gym when she is not working.
Office Manager
Donna Silvia has been with Adoption RI since 1994. Her responsibilities within the agency have included management of the agency finances, coordinating the annual phonathon and golf tournament, as well as assist with the educational series. As office manager, Donna provides administrative support for all staff, students and fee for service people. Donna is often the friendly voice people talk to in their first phone call to learn about adoption. Donna is very committed to the mission of Adoption Rhode Island and is proud to be a member of the staff. She is very dedicated to the care and love of children.
In her personal life, Donna has a very large, fun-loving family, does volunteer work and is very active in her church community.
Director, Development and Community Relations
Judith brings with her to ARI 15 years experience working within the child welfare system in Rhode Island. Her past employment focused primarily on working with DCYF involved families with young children. A firm believer in the value of supportive services, Judith was able to often witness positive change and success with her families. When that was not possible, however, she was also painfully aware of the need for safety, love and permanency that these children felt. She feels fortunate to have the opportunity to help with these goals for children in her current role at Adoption Rhode Island. As Special Projects Coordinator, she provides specialized recruitment services for waiting children, and facilitates the new Youth Speak Out Panel. An adoptive parent, mother of five, Judith is a strong advocate for children. She believes there is a family for every child, and a child for every family. We just have to get them together!
Development Associate
Deborah recently returned to ARI family as Development Associate. Deborah, who originally interned with us while obtaining her MSW, changed her focus toward development where she has been for the last 10 years. As a mother of four, Deborah shares Adoption RI's passion for helping children find famlies of their own. Deborah will be working with Judy McSoley to expand our development efforts.
Special Projects Coordinator/Office Asst.
Bernie has been at Adoption Rhode Island since 2002. She is the mother of nine, seven of her children having been adopted. Bernie's own life experience and knowledge of the adoption community helps make her a valuable part of our team. She plays a dual role at Adoption Rhode Island by also providing assistance to the Office Manager.
Communications Coordinator
Donna Rivera came to Adoption RI in February 2008, bringing over 10 years of marketing communications, website management, and graphic design experience as well as a passion for building families through adoption. "I've learned first hand, there are so many children out there who need families and so many hopeful parents who may not know that state adoption is an affordable option." As an adoptive parent of three beautiful children, Donna enjoys nothing more than spending time with family.
Development Consultant
Thomas Brendler has served as executive director and consultant at a variety of non-profit organizations for nearly 15 years. At the National Network of Forest Practitioners (NNFP), where he worked for most of that time, his development efforts enabled the organization to quadruple its resource base, in the process establishing an innovative $4 million federally-funded research initiative and a cutting-edge cultural diversity program. Thomas was also Executive Director at Groundwork Providence, which provides environmental education and job training to low-income youth and unemployed adults across the city. Since then he has been assisting several local organizations including RISD, the Institute for International Sport, and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation with grant research, proposal writing, and communications. In 2007 he joined Bernuth & Williamson, a DC-based consulting firm whose services for nonprofits include assistance with development strategy and communications. He lives in Providence with his wife and two young daughters.
Manager, Adoption & Permanency Services
Beth has over thirteen years experience working directly with waiting and adoptive children & families, both helping to keep them hopeful as they wait, and supporting them throughout the adoption process. As Program Manager, Beth will continue to provide support, education and advocacy to the children and families we serve. She is committed to helping children in DCYF care find forever families through adoption and/or guardianship.
Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter
Through a grant from Wendy's Wonderful Kids, Angela was recently hired as an Adoption Recruiter to help find families for Rhode Island's waiting children. Wendy's Wonderful Kids is a signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Angela brings to her position extensive experience working in the residential treatment field. She has worked with children of all ages with a wide range of behavioral issues in a variety of settings.
Adoption & Permanency Coordinator
Charlotte joined the ARI team in September, 2009 with 20 years of experience working with children. Her professional experience as a DCYF Social Worker, Counselor in residential and home-based therapeutic services, and foster parent has allowed Charlotte the opportunity to live out her passion for child advocacy. She believes in a strength-based philosophy and permanency for all children. Charlotte has an AFA in Fine Arts, a BA in Psychology and is currently completing her MA in Art Therapy. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her two children, coaching softball and artwork.
Adoption & Permanency Coordinator
Cynthia first joined the ARI team from January 2010 - May 2010 as a Student Intern in the Child and Family Support Program while obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. She graduated college and worked 1 year as a residential case manager in the mental health field. Cynthia now joins the ARI Recruitment and Matching Team where she is able to carry out her passion for working with children and families. Cynthia strongly believes every child deserves a family that offers safety, love and support.
Program Manager, Child & Family Services
Leah joins Adoption Rhode Island as the manager of Child & Family Support Services with years of experience working with children and families. She is a mother of four children, two of which are adopted. She believes strongly that all children deserve a home and that there are all kinds of families. she understands the importance of supporting children and families as they move through both the pre and post adoption process and is committed to providing supportive services to these children and families so that they can lead happy successful lives.
Facilitator, Rhode Island Partnership for Family Connections
Barbara joined the staff at Adoption Rhode Island in August 1998. Her professional experience includes working with both private and public adoption, family counseling, and Hospice. She is always searching for new ideas and resources to increase the community's awareness of the many ways to define "family". Barbara believes that working for children, and protecting their dreams, gives direction and hope to our future.
Adoption Support Social Worker/Counselor
Kate joined Adoption Rhode Island as a Rhode Island College intern in 2008, becoming a valued part of our Support team right up through her graduation in May, 2009. Her dedication and expertise earned her spot as Adoption Coordinator in our Recruitment and Matching Dept. Kate recently returned to the Support Team where Kate will incorporate her clinical training to work with adoptive and pre adoptive children and families.
Adoption Support Social Worker
Angelica has been working as a clinician at the Shephard Program of St Mary's Home for Children since 2002. From 2004-2005 Angelica was a student intern at Adoption Rhode Island, gaining specialized experience and knowledge in the area of adoption. Since that time, Angelica has continued to work as a clinician at the Shephard program, while also staying connected to Adoption Rhode Island. She recently joined our staff as part of our Child and Family Support Team/
Clinical Consultant
Pamela Lowell comes to Adoption Rhode Island with over twenty-five years of experience in counseling adolescents and their families. She is a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in the East Bay area. Returnable Girl, her novel about a teen in foster care and her journey to adoption was published in 2006, and has won numerous awards. She hopes that reading the book will encourage more families to consider older children for adoption. Pamela has presented workshops about adolescents and adoption at national and statewide trainings. In 2008 she won a Community Partner Award from Adoption Rhode Island, because of her work on behalf of waiting children. She is excited about offering clinical supervision, case consultation and support to the staff. In her spare time she enjoys walking her dog, writing, travel, and spending time with her family. To learn more you can also visit her website at www.pamelalowell.com which has a book group discussion guide for Returnable Girl and other resources.
Fee for Service Adoption Support
Malaina came to ARI with many years of experience working with children and families in a variety of settings. Prior to her arrival at ARI, Malaina has worked with children in DCYF care helping them to address grief and loss issues and to prepare them for reunification or adoption. She has also provided support, advocacy and clinical intervention to birth, foster and adoptive parents. Malaina believes strongly in the need for support services throughout the adoption process. She is committed to helping children and families achieve their dreams and build their lives together.
Coordinator of Volunteer Services
Jan Harrall, upon her retirement, came to ARI as a volunteer in 2008. Prior to that time she had spent her career working in the human service field in both the private and public sector. The last 21 of those years were spent in the Office of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in the RI Family Court, an agency providing advocacy for abused and neglected children involved with DCYF. During that time she served in various capacities including social caseworker, volunteer coordinator, and as deputy director for the last 11 years. While at CASA, among Jan's many responsibilities included, she and her staff worked closely with Adoption Rhode Island advocating for the best interests of waiting children.
"Because I was so impressed with the work of Adoption Rhode Island and the dedication of the staff, and was looking for a way to give back to the community after my retirement, I inquired about volunteer possibilities with the agency. The rest is history as they say. I now serve in a volunteer capacity as Coordinator of Volunteer Services and feel fortunate to be able to be a member of the ARI team."
Bridgewater State University
Boston University
Salve Regina College
Rhode Island College
Staff Mascot & Therapy Specialist
Bella, since the time she was a puppy, has become an integral part of the Adoption Rhode Island family. Usually cuddled sweetly under Director Darlene Allen's desk, Bella provides love and support to staff as needed. She has also become a favorite of the many children who visit the office.