Meet the Team

 

Adopt KS Kids Team

Corey Donnelly, Adoption Exchange Program Manager

Corey received both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work from Fort Hays State University. Corey has worked in the child welfare system since 2016, primarily working in the adoption department supporting children and families through the adoption process. Corey is passionate about her service to the foster care system, and chose a career path in social work because her personal values align with the social work profession. In her free time, Corey enjoys being outdoors, camping, and game nights with her friends and family.

Caroline Kohring, Adoption Exchange Family Specialist

Caroline earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Texas Christian University and her master’s degree in Social Work from New York University. Caroline’s social work experience includes adoption casework & clinical work with high school students. As a sister to an adoptee, Caroline loves that her job allows her to connect with adoptive families across the state of Kansas. In her free time, Caroline enjoys reading, yoga, watching reality TV, and spending time with her family & friends.

Sydnie Harmon, Adoption Exchange Family Specialist

Sydnie holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Central Methodist University. Sydnie is currently working on getting her Master’s degree in Social Work through the University of Missouri-Columbia. Sydnie has been working in child welfare since 2019, and has held multiple roles including adoption specialist, team lead and permanency supervisor. Sydnie has passion for working with children in the foster care system is excited to be in her current role with the Adoption Exchange Program as a Family Specialist. In her free time, Sydnie enjoys live music, traveling, spending time with friends/family and going to sporting events.

Sarah Harrison, Adoption Exchange Child Specialist

Sarah graduated from Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Sarah has worked in the child welfare system since 2013. She has worked in different positions including reintegration, adoption, protection specialist, and kinship/relative work. In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, reading books, creating pottery/ceramics, and watching movies.

Jordan Johnson, Adoption Exchange Child Specialist

Jordan holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work as well as a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science from Kansas State University. Jordan has previous experience in domestic violence crisis intervention and child welfare, and is passionate about helping others and working with children. In her free time Jordan enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her family.

 

Nicolette Eller, Adoption Exchange Child Specialist

Nicolette holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Nicolette’s previous experiences working in the child welfare system include family finding for youth in care and working as a support for kinship caregivers navigating the child welfare system. Nicolette finds true passion in getting to be a part of a child’s journey to adoption. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling with her family – making an effort to visit as many national parks and forests as she can.


Kansas Post Adoption Resource Center Team

Crystal Fox, Manager of Family Support Programs

Crystal holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Wichita State University. Crystal has worked in the child welfare system for the past 16 years in various roles including reintegration, kinship, and adoption. Although, Crystal’s heart and passion has always been her adoption work. Crystal saw the need for “no matter what families” for children in foster care, and she and her husband, Chris, adopted two brothers, Chayan and Cayden, from foster care in 2012. The family knew it was meant to be when the couple was introduced to the boys and found their soon-to-be children and dogs had the same and nearly the same names. Their dogs were Cheyenne and Kadence. It made for some interesting laughs!!! In her spare time, Crystal enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, doing home improvement projects, and arts/crafts.

Jenn Meyer, Family Training Specialist

After earning her education degree at Northwest Missouri State University, Jenn taught for five years. Jenn then moved into case management and eventually became a licensing worker. She now trains for FosterAdopt Connect and the Spaulding Center. Jenn and her husband were licensed foster parents for seven years. They have three daughters, one who was adopted from the foster care system.

Alex Hepner, Family Advocate

Prior to joining the team in September 2021, Alex worked as an Adoption Support Worker in the Hays area. Alex is married with 5 children. She has one biological daughter, 2 adopted daughters and 2 bonus children. Her children were kinship placements and adopted through the state of Kansas. She loves to cook, do DIY projects and spend time with her family.

Rachel O’Brien, Family Advocate

Rachel’s background is in education and recreation programming. She is a single mother to three adopted children, and her two oldest have special needs. She loves live music and going to museums.