Who we are

History of Agency

• Our agency was founded in 1991.
• We are a unique adoption agency serving Colorado.

We are unique...

• We are small, personal and caring.
• We provide on going support.
• For birth parents we have counseling, support, assistance in personal needs. We offer you the opportunity to meet other young women who are having the same life experience.
• For adoptive parents we have extensive, comprehensive and experiential training.
• Our agency is licensed, non-profit, non-sectarian organization focusing on birthmother counseling and domestic, infant adoptions.
• We care about each person that we serve and their specific needs—whether you are pregnant and unsure of the future or a couple considering adoption.

Mission Statement:

Adoptions: Advocacy & Alternatives. Serving the needs of children, birth parents and adoptive parents with professional care, kindness and compassion.

Biography:

Birth Parent Counselor, Joanne Gallagher, LCSW
Joanne F. Gallagher, LCSW received her Masters Degree in Social Work from Colorado State University in 1990. The Board of Social Work Examiners licensed her in 1993 after three years of supervised clinical practice. She is a 1970 graduate of Colorado Woman’s College. She earned her teaching credentials (K-6) from Regis University in 1981. Joanne is the Founding President of RESOLVE of Colorado. She is the founder of Adoptions: Advocacy & Alternatives. This is a Colorado Licensed Child Placement Agency. Joanne is the executive director of this agency and practices as the birthparent counselor.

Personal Vision of Adoption.

Adoptive Parent Counselor, Jude Simmons, M.A.
Jude Simmons, M.A. received her graduate degree in Marriage and Family counseling from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley Colorado in 1988. Jude enjoyed working with individuals, couples and families exclusively in her private practice from 1988 until 1994. Jude joined the staff at Adoptions: Advocacy & Alternatives in 1994 to work with Adoptive Parents and to develop the Adoptive Parent Program. She became the Placement Supervisor in 1994. Jude maintains a small private practice on the side and enjoys working with women’s issues and all persons connected to the adoption triad.

Personal Vision of Adoption.

Agency Case Worker, Mira Hatland, B.A. (Contract Worker)

Since 1976, Mira Hatland’s passion has been empowering and supporting women and children. Her love of meditation took her around the world including India, Australia and Israel. In 1984, Mira returned to the United States and worked extensively with teenagers and children in need.

She began her work with Rape Crisis of Santa Barbara where she taught self empowerment workshops to young adults. Mira also taught meditation and worked in many youth homes for troubled teens. To further her training, she graduated from a renowned self-defense course, Model Mugging. She went on to become a Model Mugging instructor for women and teens in Boston. Mira also worked with the Child Assault Prevention Program in Providence, Rhode Island.

For the last 15 years, Mira has owned her own organizing business. In 2002, she and her husband adopted their daughter through Adoptions: Advocacy and Alternatives. She is now a agency case worker with Adoptions: Advocacy and Alternatives. Mira has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Regis College.

Agency Social Worker, Jean Noblitt, LCSW (Contract Worker)

Jean Noblitt graduated from Colorado State University with a Masters of Social Work degree in 1996 and received her Colorado license as a Clinical Social Worker in 2001. She earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1986. Jean has worked a variety of areas in social work; adoption, child welfare, domestic violence, school-based prevention programs, hospice, and community organizing. She has done home assessments for adoption, foster and relative care for private adoption and social service agencies. Jean has worked with Jude and Joanne at Adoptions: Advocacy and Alternatives since 1999 providing home studies for their adoptive parents.

Agency Social Worker, Tammy Branner-Smith, LCSW (Contract Worker)

Tammy Brannen-Smith, LCSW received her Masters Degree in Social Work from Colorado State University in 1999. The Board of Social Work Examiners licensed her in 2004 after her being supervised in clinical practice. She is a 1994 graduate of Regis University. Her professional experience includes 10 years of work with Hospice patients and families. For over 15 years she has dedicated her life to work with children of all ages and supporting them and their families in a variety of settings. She is also trained as a labor and postpartum doula and is passionate about her work with women, children and families. Tammy is new to Adoptions: Advocacy and Alternatives and is honored to be part of the adoption love stories that we help facilitate.