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Meet the Staff at Kentucky Adoption ServicesA. Lucy Armistead: Founder and Director
Family: Lucy is married to Dale and together they are the proud parents of five children: Gabby, Kyler, David, Lainey and Declan. Lucy and Dale adopted two older children from Guatemala and are considering adopting again in the future. Why do I work in adoptions? "I was the Adoption Program Coordinator for a large human services organization for several years, an experience which showed me that working in the adoption field was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I loved my job, the people I worked with and my employer. Unfortunately, changes in company policy led me to make the difficult decision to resign. My decision had a profound affect on me, as I feel that adoption is a part of who I am, not just what I do. After praying and considering several other opportunities I decided that I would found my own agency, which is how Kentucky Adoption Services, Inc. came to be. I did try to get excited about other job offers, but I did not find the comfort of a "sense of peace" within myself until my decision was made. I felt that God wanted me to continue my work in adoption. Founding my own agency was a daunting experience, but God led me through it and helped me find just the right people to help me. After becoming licensed to provide adoption services, I applied for my non-profit status and was awarded with its recognition. The expenses incurred in adopting has troubled me since I began working in the field. While I understand first hand the cost involved to run an adoption agency, I did not like the fact that many middle class people do not venture into adoption because they feel that it's not affordable. With this in mind, one of my first tasks was to keep our fees low. We recently moved into a larger building to accommodate our growing staff, yet we still strive to maintain reasonable fees while acknowledging the needs for a sufficient operating budget and that funds are needed for humanitarian aid projects. I believe that you will find KAS has extremely low agency fees while we do not sacrifice the quality of providing excellent service. Another aspect of adoption that plagued me was the number of older children left waiting for families. We are particularly passionate about helping older children find families, which prompted us to start a fund to help sponsor the adoption of older children. My husband and I are the proud parents of five children, two of which we recently adopted from Guatemala. We continuously praise God for the wonderful blessings He has provided to our family and for allowing us to be a part of the joy of adoption for so many families." eMail Lucy Lydia Fusco: Home Study Coordinator/Social Work Supervisor and Pregnancy Counselor
Family: Lydia is married to Anthony, and they have been blessed with 3 children - Amelia, Joseph, and Giana. Why do I work in adoptions? "I can't imagine a better use of my time than to have a role in bringing children that are in such need of homes to parents that are so ready to love a child. I truly believe that God has given me a gift greater than I could have asked for in placing me in this position, for this agency. Working for KAS, an agency so focused on building strong families, has been priceless for my children as they have been warmly welcomed into the function of the business. The mission, families, and work environment at KAS are the best and I feel very blessed to be part of this organization." eMail Lydia Amy Baird Larkin: Post Adoption Coordinator & Case Specialist
Family: Amy is married to Chad, and is the proud mother of two boys - Jacob and Tyler. Why do I work in adoption? "I am happy to be a part of the KAS Team as it is an honor to work with families and a blessing to see parents and children united. I love the work I do and the very best part is helping children become a part of a loving forever family. I am proud to be associated with an agency that does so much good for families and children around the world. I look forward to working with many more wonderful families during their journey to adopt." eMail Amy Diana Boni: Haiti CoordinatorEducation: Bachelors from Colorado State University Family: Diana is married to Mike. Together they have two biological children and four children adopted from Haiti. They have numerous horses, dogs, toads and whatever else the kids bring home. Why do I work in adoption?: I never intended to work in adoptions, although we knew we wanted to adopt. I had a comfortable, typical career. But on December 13th, 2004, I visited the Haitian orphanage where my children were living and my life changed forever. I walked through the orphanage gate a computer programmer and walked out a life-long advocate for Haiti. I could not live with knowing there were children waiting with no familes and not doing something about it. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve abandoned Haitian children and the families who welcome them home. eMail Diana Ellen Henry: Adoption Case Specialist
Family: Ellen is married to Charlie and they have 3 beautiful children - Noah, Hannah Lisbeth, and Lauren Frances Why do I work in adoptions? "After we went through the process to adopt Hannah Lisbeth from Guatemala, adoption became very much a part of who I am and who my family had become. I could not think of a better job to do, knowing I would be a part of so many other families journey to bring home their precious children. I felt that I could offer families a perspective of an adoptive mom and hopefully help make their process as great as mine had been. I feel very blessed to work for KAS, especially for Lucy, who has a true gift and determination to help as many children as possible not only through adoption but humanitarian aid." eMail Ellen Emily Himonidis: Adoption Case SpecialistEducation: Masters of Education degree from Northern Kentucky University Family: Emily is married to Christos and have been blessed with 2 boys, Anthony and Nickolas and a daughter Ava, all adopted from Guatemala. Why do I work in Adoptions? My husband and I have been through the adoption process twice with KAS. I realized how important the support was that we received from our adoption agency. I have been praying that God would give me the opportunity to help others in the adoption process and feel that working at KAS is the answer to this prayer. I am very excited to be working at KAS and having the opportunity to help others build their forever families through adopting. Tracy McBrayer: Adoption Case SpecialistEducation: MA from Western Kentucky University Family: Tracy is married to Kent, and is the proud mother of two girls - Anne Clarie and Ashton. Why do I work in adoptions? "God began preparing me to work in the adoption field long before I heard His call! My passion for adoption was birthed when my husband and I experienced an overwhelming sense of peace about building our family through adoption soon after learning of our infertility. Within four months of our decision to adopt, a precious four-day-old baby girl was placed in our arms. Almost four years later, God blessed us a second time through international adoption and gave us the honor of adopting a seven-month-old baby girl from Cambodia. Following each adoption, I had a strong desire to help other infertile couples become parents and to help children find their forever families. My adoption ministry began when my husband and I along with two other couples launched a support group that ministered to the needs of adoptive parents and to couples dealing with infertility. I'm thrilled to again be providing adoption services to those in need, and I am blessed and honored to be given the opportunity to work for Kentucky Adoption Services, an agency I've long admired for their dedication to God, children, and families." eMail Tracy Maria Gocke: Adoption Case Specialist/Pregnancy Counselor
Family: Maria is married to Steve, a local youth pastor. Why I want to work in Adoption? Ever since I was a young girl, I've felt God has placed a calling on my life to work in the adoption field. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to help families through the adoption process. Nothing compares to the love, safety, and unity that a person experiences within their own family. it is my calling and my passion to help families and children be united and forever experience that love, safety, and unity. Tammy Styke: Office Manager
Family: Tammy is married to Dan, and they are the proud parents of Paul and Daniel. Why do I work in adoptions? "My sons were adopted from Guatemala. As an adoptive parent, I cannot think of a more awesome place to work. My heart is tender toward all adoptive families. I understand the "roller coaster" feelings that the families go through as the adoption process enters different stages. It is a joy to see a child united with their forever family. KAS is a great blessing to me." eMail Tammy Janie Carrico: Receptionist
Family: Janie is a retired schoolteacher who has been employed in clerical positions for 7 years since retiring in 1998. She has two married sons, one granddaughter and one grandchild on the way. Why do I work in adoptions? "I love the staff at KAS and find my job fulfilling. The families and children that I meet are an added bonus that makes each day special." eMail Janie Mandy Lawson : Executive Assistant
Education: 2 ½ years from Spalding University, currently finishing a degree in Human Services Management from University of Phoenix Online. Family: Mandy is married to Matt and they are the very proud parents of Clayton, home from Guatemala in 2006. Why do I work in adoptions? The adoption process is an amazing one. It is an up and down roller coaster of emotions and I know that from experience. When we brought Clayton home in 2006, I was so grateful to have been part of the KAS family. So when the opportunity to start to work for such a blessed organization came about, I thanked God that I could help others just like they had helped me. Children are the main priority in our work here at KAS, they are the reason we all work here. To see these children come home at the end of the adoption process is a blessing to everyone." eMail Mandy Kelly Gaynor: Bookkeeper
Education: Bachelors of Accounting degree from U of L. Family: Kelly is married to Bryan. Together they have four children, Tyler, Josh, Trevor and Emma. Why do I work in adoptions? "I was very fortunate to have been offered a job to work at KAS. I love children and I enjoy being a part of an everyday process of helping to complete families. " eMail Kelly Missouri Office StaffEmily Shellhorn: Director of Social Services, Missouri Office Director
Education: Bachelors of Arts degrees in Psychology/Sociology from Southwest Baptist University and Master of Social Work from Missouri State University. Why do I work in adoptions? "I believe there is no privilege greater than that of bridging the gap between children and families through the gift of adoption. I have had several opportunities to travel to orphanages and interact with children overseas. These experiences confirmed my calling to work in the field of adoption. While I understand there are many joys in adoption, I also recognize the significance of grief. I possess a passion for working with all members of the adoption triad. I met Lucy through working in an orphanage in Guatemala. I immediately knew that our hearts aligned and that I desired to work for an agency such as Kentucky Adoption Services. Upon graduation, I relocated to be a part of Kentucky Adoption Services and I look forward to serving God's children and families." eMail Emily Kim Hardin: Missouri Adoption Case Specialist
Education: Bachelors Degree in Education with a concentration in Early Childhood from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO Family: Single, middle child with two sisters, youngest Christy lives in MO with her three children (Kyle, 5 years, Allyson, 3 years, and Noah, 9 months) whom I love to spoil rotten, older sister is married and lives in Pennsylvania with husband Joel and my parents live in Missouri. Why do I work in adoptions? "My desire is for every child to have a wonderful home. I know that not every child will be born into a wonderful home life. I believe that sometimes God chooses to create a family in other ways. I believe that adoption is one of God's ways of showing His love for us. I am excited to work in a field that can show the world the love of Christ. Christ chose us and brought us into His kingdom. Through adoption we can bring families together. I have traveled overseas and seen children in need of families. I am thankful that I will be able to playa small role in bringing children home to their forever families. I am also thankful that God has led me to Kentucky Adoption Services, which is an agency that also desires to see families brought together and works diligently to see this happen." eMail Kim  |
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Education: Bachelors of Missions from Central Bible College and a Masters of Social Work from Missouri State University. 
