Meet the Adoption & Recruitment Team
As part of our National Adoption Month celebration, we're shining a spotlight on the incredible people who make our programs possible. Our dedicated Adoption and Recruitment Team is committed to breaking the cycle of foster care by creating loving, supportive families for infants and children across Oregon.
Sarah Kopplin (she/her)
Senior Director of Permanency and Adoption
Sarah is a recognized leader in the world of child welfare. She proudly oversees and manages all permanency and adoption programs at Boys & Girls Aid. She is responsible for ensuring that our innovative programs meet the highest standards of child welfare and that services are equitable, well-resourced, and guided by best practices.
“I'm proud of how our staff approach this work with empathy, curiosity and expertise. They do everything they can to ensure that the unique needs of each child are met and supported as they move through the adoption process. And even though my role is more behind the scenes, it's very meaningful for me to play a small part in helping a young person find permanency through adoption.”
Julie Kinney-Rouleau (she/her)
Director of Family Permanency Services
Julie supervises and oversees the day-to-day operations of our Child-Focused Recruitment and Family Engagement programs. A key aspect of their role is sustaining strong partnerships with the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and other funders, as well as providing outreach by educating other community partners about the permanency services we offer. Additionally, Julie manages the program’s contract and budget.
"I am honored to work with such an incredible group of individuals dedicated to helping youth reconnect, or sometimes connect for the first time, with their family, friends, and community. While our goal is for all youth to achieve legal permanency through guardianship or adoption, it is equally important that they feel a sense of permanency and connection through a network of trusted individuals who can support them for a lifetime. Through these efforts, we not only see youth build connections with their community but also with themselves, their history, and their story. Supporting youth in finding and feeling this sense of belonging is truly a privilege and a gift."
Alyssa Whitesides (she/her)
Foster Care Adoption Program Manager
As the Foster Care Adoption Manager, Alyssa takes on a wide range of responsibilities and wears many hats. In this leadership role, she is primarily responsible for coordinating and managing Foster Care Adoption services while supporting our dedicated team of Foster Care Adoption Clinicians. Alyssa also plays a crucial role in building relationships with new families and directly supporting them on their journey to adopt a child from foster care.
Jana Adams (she/her)
Foster Care Adoption Clinician
Jana builds relationships with prospective adoptive families, helping them to create an adoption plan for children who need permanent families. By listening to their stories, discussing their needs, and understanding their hopes for their relatives in care, Jana is able to advocate for families throughout the selection process and supports families in developing a permanency plan for their new child.
“I love helping forever families provide these kiddos with love and start creating meaningful memories and connections.”
Leah Brookner (she/her)
Foster Care Adoption Clinician
Leah has been with Boys & Girls Aid since 2008, contributing to various roles over the years. Now serving as a Foster Care Adoption Clinician, she provides critical support to prospective adoptive families throughout the adoption process. Whether conducting in-depth home study assessments, guiding parents through the matching and selection process, or offering post-placement support, Leah is committed to assisting families every step of the way.
“I am so fortunate to work with some of the most empathic, motivated, kindhearted, and open-minded families! As a team, we partner to find the very best permanent family for children exiting foster care. I’m so inspired by the families we get to work with; and can’t help but see the magic in each and every adoption!”
Kate Clark (she/her)
Family Permanency Specialist
Kate facilitates attachment-based therapeutic activities and skills training sessions for youth in care, helping them develop the social and emotional skills necessary to achieve permanency. By building relationships with youth, she identifies trusted connections who could potentially serve as resource or adoptive parents, supporting their journey towards a permanent home. Additionally, she serves as a key advocate, offering youth a reliable and supportive resource as they navigate the foster care system.
Jenny Davis (she/her)
Infant Adoption Specialist
Jenny is an essential member of our Infant Adoption Team, providing counseling to birth parents about all their options — parenting, adoption, or abortion — during pregnancy and empowering them to make the decision that is best for them. If a birth parent chooses to create an adoption plan, Jenny is there to guide and support them through every stage of the adoption process, both before and after their baby is born.
“My favorite part of my job is watching families grow and seeing the deep love and connection between birth and adoptive parents. It's beautiful and inspirational.”
Amy DeGennaro (she/her)
Foster Care Adoption Clinician
As a foster care adoption clinician, Amy is dedicated to supporting children and families throughout the entire adoption process. She helps adoptive families discover their unique strengths and understand the emotional and logistical complexities of a successful foster care adoption. After the adoption, Amy continues to provide support by offering referrals to community resources that assist families as they transition into their new life together.
“I believe families are foundational. It’s such an honor to help kids find the stability, love, support, and consistency in an adoptive family, and to watch them thrive. And I’m constantly inspired by the strength and resilience of the families I work with who choose this path to parenthood. I couldn’t do what I do without the amazing support of my foster care adoption team. They’re endlessly supportive, and each one brings skill, humility, and a much-needed sense of humor to the work we do!”
Karl Hirsch (he/him)
Foster Care Adoption Clinician
Karl plays a vital role in our efforts to break the cycle of foster care by working directly with families looking to adopt from the foster care system. He assesses each family’s readiness to adopt through comprehensive home studies and provide coaching throughout the entire matching process. Karl also serves as a key liaison between potential adoptive families and caseworkers, advocating for families from placement through post-placement support and finalization.
"I think I might have the best job in the world. It is beyond gratifying to help families grow. I am always excited when I can assist a child or youth in leaving the foster care system to join a healthy family where they can thrive while still maintaining a connection to their biological family members. I feel honored and humbled to play such a significant role in the lives of so many people and to work alongside caring, skilled, and dedicated professionals."
Sandy Kendall (she/her)
Family Permanency Specialist
Sandy's role involves preparing foster youth throughout Eastern Oregon to join their forever home. She works closely with case workers, support systems, adoptive parents and other caregivers to ensure that every child is well-prepared for the transition into permanency.
“I feel such purpose with the work that I do. Boys & Girls Aid offers unique services that allow us to be an advocate for youth voices and choices. It can be challenging to work with youth facing these obstacles, but every child I work with deserves to feel safe, heard, and most importantly loved.”
Paula Meyer (she/her)
Infant Adoption Specialist
Paula is another integral member of our Infant Adoption Team, offering ongoing support and all-options counseling to birth parents navigating an unplanned pregnancy. A key aspect of her role is guiding parents who choose adoption through the placement process and helping them determine the level of openness that best fits their situation.
“I feel incredibly lucky to witness the joy of adoptive parents holding their child for the first time when a placement is made. I also have the privilege of reuniting adoptees with their birth parents, which brings me so much happiness. Helping individuals navigate the emotional journey to that moment and connecting them to each other is truly rewarding.”
Amy Norris (she/her)
Family Permanency Specialist
Amy’s role combines two of her passions: working with kids and conducting research. Each month, she collaborates directly with the youth in her caseload to help them build a path toward permanency by addressing social and behavioral challenges, understanding healthy relationships, and uncovering connections with community members who could become adoptive resources.
“My goal is to provide a safe space for the youth to explore who they are while building a community of loving supportive adults who will be there throughout the youth's life. It feels amazing to realize that the day-to-day work that goes into each case leads to fruitful and meaningful results. Connecting a youth with a family and supporting them through the long and often complicated adoption process is a team effort that I am honored to be a part of.”
Kaylene Parker (she/her)
Family Permanency Specialist
As a Family Permanency Specialist, Kaylene works directly with youth, helping them understand their permanency needs by guiding them through techniques to process their history, work through trauma, and build connections that lead to a brighter future. She also collaborates with caregivers, providing guidance, coaching, and psychoeducation to foster stability and achieve permanency for youth.
"I take pride in being a voice for youth who are often unheard. My role provides connection and consistency—fundamental developmental needs that many of them lack. I feel honored whenever a youth opens up to me, sharing their past experiences and hopes for the future. Being a consistent, supportive presence in their lives brings me a sense of joy and purpose unlike any other role I’ve had. I am truly fortunate to do the work I do."
Sarah Peterson (she/her)
Family Permanency Specialist
Sarah works to create stability for children in foster care by searching for connections with relatives and other significant adults in their lives who could be a support system for them going forward. The ultimate goal of her efforts is to find someone who could provide legal permanency for the child. Sarah also works directly with youth to help them process their emotions and gain a better understanding of their own stories.
"This work is very meaningful & essential, as everyone deserves to feel seen and feel supported by people who care about them. Relationships make a difference in all our lives.”
We cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible individuals on our Adoption and Recruitment Team. Boys & Girls Aid's 140-year legacy and reputation for creating families and lifelong connections for children in the foster care system are direct testaments to the outstanding work our team does every day.
Boys & Girls Aid’s adoption and recruitment team is able to continue to do this important and meaningful work because of the continued support of our community. It is through the generosity of supporters like you that we make a lasting difference in the lives of children. Together, we have created a life-changing legacy of over 18,000 completed adoptions, touching generations along the way — and our work is far from over.
As we celebrate National Adoption Month this November, we ask that you make an investment in the lives of children and families with a donation to Boys & Girls Aid. Your gift will help our team carry out our mission to build a brighter future where every child has a family to call their own.