Meet the Adoption Circle Staff
Learn About Our Team and And Culture
We are a team of dedicated professionals, ready to do what ever it takes to help you with the adoption Process
Pamela Hook, MSW LISW-S - Executive Director
Pamela has been actively involved in the field of adoption for over fifteen years. Prior to joining Adoption Circle, she worked as an obstetric social worker. Pamela frequently speaks on adoption issues, and has presented at the National Adoption Center Conference, Regional Adoption Sumit, and RESOLVE (a support group for adoptive parents). Pamela has also presented on various adoption-related topics at obstetrical and pre-natal conferences.
Pamela is the new Executive Director of Adoption Circle and we are excited to see where she takes the agency! Her adoption case worker experience and management skills make her an invaluable member of the Adoption Circle team. Pam also coordinates and completes international homestudies, post-placements, and conducts education on international adoption issues. Pamela is married with four wonderful children.
Susan Brewer, BSSW - Birthparent Financial Counselor & Post-Placement Coordinator
Susan is a 1985 graduate from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work. She is a state-licensed adoption assessor who spent the early years of her professional career as a birthparent social worker. Susan, a founding member of Adoption Circle, now runs the Agency's financial services including billing, reimbursements, and Medicaid for adopted children.
Kim Blajsczak-Blayney, MSW - Director of Birthparent Services, Adoption Assessor
After working for over three years for the Franklin County Public Defender’s Office, Juvenile Unit, advocating for the best interest of children, Kim joined the Adoption Circle staff. Since 1998, she has worked extensively with birthparents throughout the state. She has recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Social Work and has become an important member of the Adoption Circle team. Congratulations on completing your MSW, Kim!
Carrie West - Administrative Assistant
Carrie joined the Adoption Circle team in 2006 and is the daughter of Barb Rankin, who worked for Adoption Circle as an Administrative Assistant for a number of years before she retired. The mother-daughter team is an example of our warm family atmosphere. As Barb did, Carrie continues the tradition of providing excellent customer service and help to all of our clients. Carrie not only has professional experience with adoption, but also personal experience, considering she has an adopted sister. She is an additional member of our team that is available to support our families through her valuable computer experience, organizational, customer service skills, and most importantly, her cheerful demeanor and welcoming personality. Carrie resides in Westerville with her husband and has three adult sons and one granddaughter.
Chris Soto - Billing Coordinator
Chris joined Adoption Circle in 2014. She is a graduate of Capital University. Although she is willing to help in any area her specialty is in finance. She has over 25 years in the financial field. Chris is the person you can reach out to for your invoices, statements, budgeting your adoption or general questions.
Brittany Morgan, MSW, LSW - Adoption Assessor
Brittany Morgan first joined the Adoption Circle team as an intern in 2015 while pursuing her Master's degree in social work. Upon graduating a year and a half later, Brittany was hired on as staff. She pursued both her Bachelor's of Psychology and MSW at The Ohio State University. Brittany currently is a contract adoption assessor who works primarily with adoptive parents. She facilitate homestudies and post-placement visits for adoptive families. Brittany also works as a high school cheerleading coach in her hometown of Marion. She resides there with her high school sweetheart, with whom she plans to start a family after getting settled into her career.
Lucie Blumenthal, MA, LPC - Founder, Adoption Specialist
Lucie received her Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University in Family and Child Development. She spent many years working with delinquent youth in the institutional and community settings as a parole and probation officer. Lucie earned her Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling in 1980. She began working in the field of adoption in 1985. Lucie is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a certified adoption assessor in Ohio.
Lucie is one of the founding mothers of Adoption Circle. As the Director of Adoption Services, she focuses her effots on supervision, education, and the provision of services for adoptive parents. She is active in state-wide adoption groups such as The Ohio Adoption Planning Group. She is the mother of three children. Her Labrador Retriever is a licensed Therapy Dog and they volunteer weekly at the OSU James Cancer Hospital. Lucie has been active on various boards and is currently involved with Choices (an organization for the elimination of the cycle of domestic violence).
Nancy Burley, LISW-S - Founder, Adoption Specialist
Nancy is a Licensed Independent Social Worker who began working in adoption in 1986. She speaks extensively throughout the United States on a variety of adoption issues. She assists the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services by training social workers that wish to become state-certified adoption assessors.
Nancy was an integral member of the team of professionals who re-wrote Ohio's current adoption law. She is highly regarded by birthparents, adoptive families, social workers, attorneys, and judges for her expertise in the field of adoption. For her work in adoption, Nancy was honored by the U.S. Congress as Senator George Voinovich's nominee to receive the 2011 Angel in Adoption Award.
Nancy and her husband, Doug, a realtor, reside in Columbus, Ohio. They are the parents of two adult children - Jessica and C. Logan. She is one of the original founders of Adoption Circle.
Debbie Melucci, MSW, LISW - Adoption Assessor
Debbie graduated with her Master’s degree in Social Work in 1993 from The Ohio State University. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and a Certified Adoption Assessor for the State of Ohio. She has always had a passion for working with families. This is reflected through her work experiences as a children services foster care worker, hospital social worker on the OB unit and as an adoption assessor. She has enjoyed completing home studies and post placement visits for nearly 15 years. Debbie is married and has five children and five grandsons. Adoption is very close to her heart as her youngest daughter joined the family through adoption.
Kelsie Jo Deeds, MSW, LISW, LCSW - Adoption Assessor
Kelsie Jo began her Adoption Circle journey as an intern in 2008 and quickly fell in love with adoption. Kelsie was hired in 2008 to assist working with birthparents. Kelsie then graduated from The Ohio State University with her Master's Degree in Social Work in 2009. Despite moving closer to family in 2010 and leaving the Adoption Circle family, the passion and desire for adoption stayed with her. In 2019, paths crossed again and an opportunity arose where Kelsie was able to join as a contract worker. Kelsie is dually licensed as an LISW in Ohio and LCSW in Indiana. Kelsie enjoys working with the adoption triad and looks forward to helping each family move through their adoption journey.
Full time, Kelsie works for Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne on a Geriatric Psychiatric Impatient Unit. Kelsie resides in New Haven, Indiana and lives with her boyfriend, two children and her two dogs.
Taranna Francisco, MSW, LSW - Adoption Assessor
Taranna has been with Adoption Circle since November 2019. She graduated from The University of Akron with her Masters in Social Work in 2009. Taranna has been a social worker for 22 years and has specialized in several areas which includes child welfare (intake, ongoing, and adoptions), mental health, and adults with developmental disabilities. She has also instructed several social work courses at The University of Akron, Youngstown State University, and Stark State College. Taranna has a passion and enjoys working with families, especially adoptive families as they travel through their adoption journey. In her spare time, she loves spending time and making memories with her 4 grandchildren who are 12, 9, 4, and 2. She also loves having family dinners at her home, scrapbooking, arts and crafts, reading, and just relaxing and watching television.
Full time, Taranna works for Summit County Children Services as a Protective Supervisor and she is a part-time mental health therapist and an adoption assessor completing domestic and international adoptions.