Who are we?

Choosing Hope Adoptions is Leading Ohio in Ethical Adoption.

Adoption is a redemptive response to a crisis. It is filled with ups and downs, unimaginable heartache, love, and joy. All entities in the adoption triad, birth parents, adoptive parents, and the child(ren) have unique needs, experiences, and hopes as they enter into the adoption journey.

Choosing Hope Adoptions desires to come alongside all entities in the adoption triad and serve them with honor, and point them towards Jesus. We strive to provide a high level programs and services, support, compassion, an abortion alternative and adoption education. Adoption is a relational ministry and shouldn’t feel transactional to those involved. It is out hope that the relationships we build with our clients are life long and infused with hope.

Choosing Hope Adoptions is a full service licensed non-profit adoption agency serving all of Ohio.

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Angela / Executive Director

Angela was born and raised in rural Minnesota. She graduated with Bachelor’s of Art in Music from Winona State University in 2002. In 2003 She accepted a job as the Director of Children and Youth Ministries in Springfield, OH. She served in that position for nearly a decade.

Angela and her husband Brett have 4 children; Noah, GeorgiAnne, Xander, and Lucy. Their oldest two children are theirs biologically and their youngest two joined their family through adoption.

After navigating the adoption process twice Angela felt the call to pursue licensing and opening an adoption agency in Ohio. She has served as Choosing Hope Adoptions Executive Director since it was founded in 2014.

Angela enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and catching up with friends over coffee.

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Cindi / Assistant Director

Cindi has been married to Dave for 40+ years and has five children: 3 biological and 2 adopted and 12 grandchildren. She has been a registered nurse, specializing in cardiac nursing, for 34 years. 

Cindi’s passion for adoption began when she was nine years old and visited an orphanage as part of a girl scout experience. Seeing rows of babies in cribs, crying with no one to pick them up tugged at her young heart. After growing up, marrying and having three boys, her and her husband knew there was something more that they were to be doing in order to provide children with a safe, loving environment; an environment where there was opportunity for each child to learn of God’s great love and plan for his or her life. 

This led them to become foster parents and for the next few years, 32 children moved through their home and hearts. When their youngest son was 21 and they were empty nesters, they were contacted by their local department of job and family services about one of their previous foster placements that would soon
become permanent. That is how they added their youngest son and daughter to their family. Now they too, are raised, with families of their own.

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Jenna / Licensed Social Worker

Jenna was born and raised in southwest Ohio, and LOVES her current home of Cincinnati!  She attended Miami University where she earned her Bachelor of Social Work, and received a Master of Social Work at University of Cincinnati in 2015.

Jenna has worked in child welfare for the duration of her social work career as a case worker, trainer, and home study specialist.  She is passionate about equipping all families with healthy parenting, communication, and coping skills. Jenna joined the Choosing Hope team in 2018 and is excited to work with mothers and adoptive families in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas.  She believes that God has great plans to use Choosing Hope to make adoption more ethical and accessible in Ohio! Jenna enjoys traveling, trying out new Cincinnati restaurants and breweries, and is an avid fan of “Survivor” and the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

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Lissa / Parent Advocate

Lissa grew up in West Liberty, Ohio where she met and married her high school sweetheart, Andy. They have been married 20 years and have 5 children, 3 biological and 2 adopted siblings from 22 to 9 years old! Lissa and Andy had their oldest child during their junior year of high school and got married right after they graduated. 

About 7 years ago they were called by God to adopt and were led to Choosing Hope. During their adoption process, Lissa finished her Bachelors in Psychology at Colorado Christian University, and knew that she would be a perfect fit for Expectant Parent Advocate at Choosing Hope. With her background of being a teen parent and going through the adoption process herself, she has a perspective that only God could beautifully form to help her guide young women in a difficult situation.

With their children in sports they stay pretty busy, but in her spare time, she loves to have coffee with friends, sing on the worship team at church and go on adventures with her husband.

Emily / Operations Manager

Emily was born and raised in Springfield, Ohio where she lives with her family. She has a bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education, and a master’s in Educational Leadership.

Emily and her husband, Jeff, have four children. Two of her children were born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and joined their family through adoption. Through that experience, Emily has developed a heart for special needs and older child adoption.

Emily loves attending all of her children’s sporting events and activities, but in her free time, she enjoys reading, weightlifting, and wake surfing.

Miriam / Strategic Advocate

Miriam resides in Columbus, Ohio.

She graduated from Dallas Baptist University and has worked in finance for 15 years.

Miriam has also volunteered with youth and young adults projects for over 20 years. In 2018, Miriam adopted her beautiful daughter through Choosing Hope Adoptions.

With a passion for child advocacy and the adoption triad, Miriam has assisted CHA with several strategic initiatives and projects and in 2020 Miriam joined the team officially as Strategic Advocate. In her free time, Miriam enjoys traveling for fun and with advocacy projects (38 countries and six continents to date) and enjoys hiking with her daughter and golden doodle whenever the Ohio weather allows!

Melanie / Licensed Social Worker

Melanie has been a resident of Northeast Ohio her entire life and now lives in the Akron area with her family. She attended the University of Akron where she earned bachelor’s degrees in both Psychology and Sociology in 2012 and then went on to pursue her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of New England which she earned in 2017.

Melanie is passionate about child welfare and has had numerous professional opportunities in both public and private agencies to work with birth parents, foster children, as well as foster and adoptive parents. It was out of this deep passion for children and families that Melanie and her husband decided to pursue becoming licensed foster caregivers, which they did in January 2018. The Lord blessed them by placing a sibling group of 3 young children with them whom they are now in the process of adopting. In addition to their 3 soon to be adopted children, Melanie and her husband Andrew also have 4 biological children. The children range in age from 1 years old to 12 years old!

In her free time, which is very limited as a working mom of 7, Melanie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching cooking shows and listening to praise and worship music. 

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Lindsey / Staff Spiritual Advisor

Lindsey and her husband Abraham live in Jamestown, OH. They have been married for 12 years and have three precious daughters, the youngest two joining their family through adoption. As a family, they love to swim, vacation, and spend time with their dogs, Chupie and Willow.

Lindsey graduated from Cedarville University majoring in Christian Education and Youth Ministries. She serves alongside her husband in the student ministry at their church, as well as leading worship. She is passionate about speaking the truth of God’s Word into the lives of others and discipling the hearts of young women.

Lindsey serves as a spiritual advisor to the Choosing Hope staff by meeting with them one on one to provide encouragement, Biblical truth and prayer. She is grateful to be a part of the Choosing Hope Team.

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Dayna / Licensed Social Worker

Dayna and her family are native Cincinnatians, and currently live northeast of downtown. She has her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Miami University and has a variety of social work experience including Child Welfare, mental health counseling, and international adoptions. Dayna is excited to serve families in the Cincinnati area with Choosing Hope! In her downtime, Dayna enjoys reading books, gardening, being outdoors, and spending time with her three kids and husband.  

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Ashley / Education Coordinator

Ashley is our Education Coordinator. Her role at Choosing Hope Adoptions spans pre-adoption education for families wanting to adopt through post-adoption resources for families who have finalized their adoption. Adoption is not just a moment in time and Ashley shares her knowledge and experience as an adoptive family and searches out experts for the benefit of our adoptive families.

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Monica / Licensed Social Worker

Monica is married to her husband, Rick. They have three children and live in Okeana, Ohio. Their family enjoys any activity that involves being outdoors including camping, hiking, bonfires, and sporting events.

Monica works full time in a nursing home as a social worker and Choosing Hope part time as an Adoption Assessor in the Cincinnati area.  

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Jessie / Licensed Social Worker

Jessie grew up in Maria Stein, OH, a town where cows outnumber people. She earned her Bachelors and Masters of Social Work degrees at Wright State University, where she also met her husband, Ian. They have one dog and are looking forward to grow their family when the time comes.

Jessie started her social work journey as a Hospice Social Worker and has since joined the Choosing Hope Team. Jessie enjoys seeing the full life cycle through her work. She has a deep appreciation for seeing the endless opportunities that are awaiting a child and the story that child will write throughout their lifetime.

In her free time, Jessie enjoys being outside, baking, and spending time with family.