Brent E Yoder, MSW, LCSW
Executive Director

In 1999 Brent became the Executive Director of Adoption Options, Inc. This coincided with the start of Adoption Options, Inc. and Frank Foundation Child Assistance International's relationship. Under Brent's leadership, Adoption Options, Inc. has expanded from a home study only agency to a full service international adoption agency. The agency has been credited for assisting with over 1200 adoptions since his arrival.

Brent brought to the agency over 20 years of social work experience. He graduated cum laude from the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He went on to graduate with a Masters of Social Work from San Diego State University. In further development of his professional skills he has obtained the status of a certified social worker by being admitted to the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW); the status as a clinical social worker by obtaining his clinical license in the State of California, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW); and become a Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work (BCD) recognizing his advanced clinical skills.

Brent started his career working as a psychiatric social worker in an inpatient hospital and advanced to become the Director of Social Work Services of the entire medical hospital. His next career development was to start his own private practice working with families as a psychotherapist. An adjunct to his private practice, he was selected as Certification Hearing Officer by San Diego Superior Court to be a court commissioner for mental health hearings. He started his work with adoptions with assessments of families and providing home studies. His interest in adoptions comes from his personal experience with infertility and his genuine consideration of the adoption option. Although he and his wife were finally able to conceive their children this experience peaked a curiosity and desire to help others with adoption.

Brent has always been a strong advocate for children. The opportunity to lead Adoption Options, Inc. has allowed him to devote his professional efforts to children in need of families and to families that want children. He frequently tells whoever will listen that he has the best job anyone could have.

Lori Weiner, MSW, LCSW
Adoption Social Worker

Lori is originally from Colorado. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and her Master of Social Work degree from San Diego State University.  She became interested in the field of social work in college by volunteering at a group home for teenage girls, a school for developmentally delayed students, and as a program coordinator for a Latina girls program. She has worked with adolescents on probation and spent 4 years as a child and family therapist, trainer, and coordinator of social work services for a local non-profit's after-school programs.  She has traveled extensively and is loves working in the field of international adoptions.  Lori is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked for Adoption Options since April 2006.

Lori also speaks Spanish (Lori habla espanol). Lori's primary duties include conducting adoption home studies and post adoption reports, managment of home study paperwork, and interfacing with Adoption Options' contracted Social Workers and other international adoption placing agencies. She also facilitates Adoption Options' informational seminars outside of the San Diego area and parent support group meetings.

Michelle Trudeau Wilkes, BA
Dossier Coordinator

Michelle grew up just north of San Diego in Temecula, California. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside in 2002. After graduating, Michelle worked at a residential education campus for foster teens in San Diego County helping students prepare for college and independent living.  Because of her strong interest in the social work field and her passion for children's welfare, Michelle pursued a position with Adoption Options, Inc.  She has been happily employed with them since December 2005. Michelle's primary duties include coordinating and assisting families with the Dossier process, preparing families for international travel, and helping families complete the Registration process upon their return home with their child.

Natasha Oberg, BA, MBA
Post Adoption Coordinator

Natasha was born and raised in Russia where she received her Bachelor in Science of Education, majoring in English. Natasha moved to the US in 1998 and worked as a Counselor at a Group Home helping at-risk teenage girls.  For two years, Natasha worked as a Placement and Support Director for the International Student Exchange program bringing world cultures closer together. She received MBA from National University in 2007. Natasha has worked for Adoption Options since October 2006. Natasha's primary duties include management of the office, post-adoption scheduling and processing of post adoption reports once completed by Social Workers. She also helps families with readoption in California.

Angela Castellanos, MSW, LCSW
Adoption Social Worker

Angela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In 1994, she began her social work career working with incarcerated teens, and has vast experience in the social work arena. Previously, Angela serviced hundreds of children and families in both Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services and Orange County Social Services Agency in the Adoption Divisions. While at Orange County, she developed a support group for relative caregivers and their adoptees and facilitated the orientation meetings for prospective adoptive parents. She currently provides services to juveniles and their families. Born in El Salvador, she strived to achieve the highest accomplishments. Angela received her Bachelors Degree in Social Work from La Sierra University. Following, she earned her Masters Degree in Social Work from California State University Long Beach and has two Pupil Personnel Services credentials in school counseling and school social work. Prior to being an Adoption Consultant, she worked in schools and various treatment facilities for adults. Angela has worked for Adoption Options since June 2005.

Lisa A. Finn, MSW, LCSW
Adoption Social Worker

Lisa received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Work and Family Studies from Wagner College in Staten Island, New York, and a Master of Social Work degree from New York University. She began her work in the social services field in 1989 working with at-risk adolescents and their families in Staten Island. In addition, she provided Independent Living Skills workshops to youth in the foster care system throughout New York City, Long Island and Upstate New York. After relocating to San Diego, Lisa worked with children and adolescents in a residential treatment setting, as well as a group home. In the Central Coast area, Lisa worked for a private non-profit foster /adoption agency as a social worker / trainer / social work supervisor / adoptions worker and administrator for over seven years. Lisa has participated in the Adoptions Clinical Training through the Kinship Center and has provided adoption services for over six years. Lisa has been employed with Adoption Options since June 2005.

Theresa Orelli, MSW, LCSW
Adoption Social Worker

Theresa first became interested in social work during college while working with developmentally delayed children in a residential setting. She received a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2000, and a Masters of Social Work from San Diego State University in 2002. Over the past ten years Theresa has worked with children and families in a variety of settings including as a residential therapist for children with behavioral difficulties, and as an outpatient therapist working with children and families struggling with attachment issues. Theresa currently conducts adoption home studies, provides psychological assessments for elderly and mentally ill individuals in Adult Day Health Care settings, and provides in-home therapy for children and families dealing with significant medical diagnoses. Theresa has been employed with Adoption Options since August 2007.

Loren Pinn, MSW, LCSW
Adoption Social Worker

Loren received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1982 and her Master of Social Work Degree from San Diego State University in 1985. She has 22 years of experience in the adoption field. She has been certified by the California Department of Social Services as an Adoption Service Provider. This enables Loren to advise birth parents of their legal rights in California, explain all of their options, and prepare and witness their signatures on all adoption documents. She also counsels birth parents, adoptive parents, and the community about the process of adoption and adoption issues. Loren also has a private practice that focuses on individuals, couples, and family issues. Loren has been employed with Adoption Options since March 2001.

Maria B. Smith, MSW
Adoption Social Worker

Maria earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Carleton College in Minnesota and her Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in Family Therapy from Washington University. She has been a professional social worker since 1987. Maria worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and on the OB/GYN ward of a teaching hospital before entering the field of adoptions in 1989. She was a Children's Social Worker in the Adoptions Unit of the Department of Children and Family Services, where she counseled foster children, conducted home studies for adoptive parents, and facilitated adoptions. She then worked with birth parents and adoptive parents for several years as the Open Adoption Counselor and Branch Director of a domestic adoption agency in Los Angeles. Maria was the Social Work Supervisor in an international adoption agency before becoming self-employed in May, 1997. As a contract social worker, Maria enjoys providing home study services to adoptive parents and post- placement services to families formed through adoption. She has worked with Adoption Options since March 2005.

Joyce A. Thompson, MSW, LCSW
Adoption Social Worker

Joyce began working in the social services field in 1992.  She has worked in a variety of settings, including juvenile hall, the school system, a therapy office, an insurance group, and with child protective services.   She received her Bachelor's degree in Child Development with an Emphasis in Child Mental Health from California State University, Northridge and her Masters of Social Work degree from California State University, Long Beach.  Joyce has worked in the adoption field since 1997, both internationally and domestically.  She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is registered with the State of California as a Certified Adoption Service Provider.  When asked what her favorite job is, she said "Being a mom of two!"  She has been employed with Adoption Options since 2003.

Terry J. Villacruz, MSW, LCSW
Adoption Social Worker

Terry has been a social worker for over 25 years and has held a variety of positions in the social services field. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and her Masters of Social Work degree from San Diego State University. Terry has many years of experience in the adoption arena both professional and personally, as she and her husband adopted their daughter eight years ago. Terry began working for Adoption Options in 2000 and feels truly blessed to be involved in helping so many people realize their dreams of growing their family. Terry has been employed with Adoption Options since 2001.