About Us » Our Staff & Board
Staff
Executive Director
Rachel Warren, BA, BSW, RSW
Rachel Warren has worked professionally with children and families for the past 15 years. She has worked in child welfare organizations her entire Social Work career, and has spent the past 8 years with CHOICES Adoption, first as a Social Worker, then Clinical Supervisor, and now Executive Director. Rachel completed a BA and BSW from the Univesity of Victoria, and has held postitions within the Ministry of Children and Family Development prior to joining CHOICES in 2002.
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Social Worker
Fiona Trotter, BA, BSW, RSW
- Bachelor's Degree in Social Work with a child welfare specialization
- Bachelor's Degree in Sociology with a concentration in social justice
- Previous experience working with families and children involved in the child welfare system
- Currently the CHOICES Social Worker for our Domestic, Ethiopia and Ghana programs
Social Worker
Laura Carin, BA, BSW, RSW
- Bachelor's Degree in Social Work with a Child Welfare Specialization
- Bachelor's Degree in English Literature & Women's Studies
- Previously worked at CHOICES as an Administrative Assistant
- Worked for several years as a Research Assistant at the University of Victoria and at various agencies in Singapore
- Currently the CHOICES Social Worker for our China, Philippines, US State, Nepal and Vietnam programs.
Social Worker
Kirsten Wall, BHSc, BSW, RSW
- Bachelor's Degree in Social Work
- Bachelor's Degree in Health Sciences
- Worked and lived abroad as an ESL teacher in both Korea and Japan
- Works with expecting parents
- Works with families who are adopting from Bulgaria, Guyana, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Pakistan, St. Vincent, Sri Lanka and the USA
Office Manager
Laura Thompson
- Office Administration, Legal Secretary and Government Records Management Diplomas
- Experience as a secretary, bookkeeper, senior administrator/coordinator, and project coordinator
- On Staff with CHOICES since January 2000.
Program Administrator
Marie Montgomery
Marie graduated with Honours from a Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate in 2005. She speaks French and English, and has several years experience as an office administrator and as a legal assistant. She joined CHOICES team in 2007. Marie is CHOICES Program Administrator for the Russia, Bulgaria, China, Haiti, India, Ukraine and Ecuador Programs.
Program Administrator
Kathy Khouri
Kathy joined the CHOICES team in January 2008 as an Office Administrator. She has a degree in Child & Youth Care from the University of Victoria and is currently working towards obtaining a certificate in Business & Leadership Development.
Office Administrator
Katerina Edwards
Katerina grew up in the Czech Republic and graduated from the Business Management College in 2004. Katerina speaks both English and Czech fluently.
In 2004 she moved to Surrey, England where she gained valuable experience working as a quality assurance and accounts receivable administrator for a number of international companies.
2008 provided further change for Katerina as she has got married and immigrated to Canada in the same year.
Katerina is very excited to have joined the CHOICES team in January, 2010 as an Office Administrator. In her spare time she enjoys exploring the natural beauty of Vancouver Island through hiking and walking her dog. She is an avid Volleyball fan and plays in a number of local leagues.
Public Relations
Holly Allen, BA International Relations, BSW, RSW
- Bachelor's Degree in Social Work with a Child Welfare Specialization
- Currently the marketing and PR correspondent for Choices Adoption
- Has spent many years doing settlement work for immigrant families in Central America and Canada
- Holly helps families get connected with waiting children in BC
- Children can't wait to have a family
- Contact Holly to attend an information session or to receive information about how to create your family through adoption
Website Design
Will Weinzettl
Will is a web developer that operates Spiky Cactus Design Co. He designed and maintains the CHOICES website.
Consultant
Cheryl Fix, BA, MSc (Candidate)
Cheryl returns to CHOICES as the Executive Director after a four year hiatus in England. Cheryl has worked for the past 15 years with children and families. She has worked for the Province of Alberta, Province of British Columbia and the Independent Adoption Service in London, England. Formerly, she was on the Board of the North American Council on Adoptable Children for 8 years.
Consultant
Brenda McCreight, Ph.D.
Brenda is a consultant and trainer for families and professionals who are involved with adoption and foster care, and she has a private practice for children living with behavioural disorders. Brenda is the author of two books, "Recognizing and Managing Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects: A Guidebook", published by the Child Welfare League of America in 1997, and "Parenting Your Older Adopted Child", published by New Harbinger Publications in 2002. She is also the mother of fourteen children, seven of whom were considered "special needs" at the time of adoption placement. She is also a grandmother of five children.
Consultant
Sandra Scarth, BA, BSW, RSW
Sandra is an adoptive parent and social worker who has advocated for over 40 years for improved permanency planning and support services for children and youth in child welfare. She believes that adoption is a wonderful way to create a family and is always happy to talk to prospective adoptive parents about adoption issues.
She has worked for the Province of Manitoba, the Catholic Children's Aid Society in Vancouver and the Children's Aid Society of Metro Toronto. She was Adoption Coordinator and Director of Children's Services for the Province of Ontario. She was the Founding Executive Director of the Child Welfare League of Canada.
Sandra attended the final deliberations on the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption as Canada's non-governmental representative.
She co-chaired a Task Force in B.C. on Safeguards for Children and Youth in Foster or Group Home Care; co-authored the Children's Residential Resource Review for the Yukon government; conducted reviews of child protection services in Newfoundland and PEI, adoption services in Alberta and intercountry adoption issues for the federal government. In 1997 she was awarded the Friend of Children Award from the North American Council on Adoptable Children.
Currently she is President of the Board of the Adoption Council of Canada , and a member of the Board of the North American Council on Adoptable Children. She also consults on children's issues.
Board
Chair
Patti Devlin
Vice Chair
Tim Schober
Directors
Elaine Monds
Robin Pike
Peter Berrang
Joseph Gonyeau
Michaela Donnelly
Peter Westhaver
Clay Reitsma
Advisors
Sandra Scarth
Brenda McCreight
Arlene Bishop
Dee Dee Fuchs
Nancy Kato