About Us
Welcome
First, let us congratulate you on taking one of the first steps in the exciting and sometimes complicated process of building a family through adoption. All Faiths Adoption Services provides comprehensive infant adoption services to all families seeking to build their family through adoption. We are fully inclusive and are proud to welcome all families. We believe that adoption is not a one-time event; instead, it is a lifelong process of growth, commitment, and development. We provide support to families during and after the adoption process.
Our primary goal is to help infants find permanent, loving, and safe homes within a family. We work with birth families to provide comprehensive options counseling to guide their decision making process. Our staff understands that adoptive parents have often experienced emotional and physical challenges prior to considering adoption. We educate and empower prospective adoptive parents on their journey to becoming a family.
Program Staff
Chelsea Pennington, LCSW, PMH-C
Director of Placement Services
Chelsea is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her Master’s degree in Social Work from New Mexico Highlands University. She holds a certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C), specializing in supporting the mental health needs of individuals during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Chelsea has a passion for supporting families in their journey to adoption and beyond, and she honors her role in supporting birth parents as they navigate their own journey and process.
Sonya Briones-Parks, LPCC
Placement Services Clinical Supervisor
Sonya graduated with a master's in Art therapy & Counseling from Mount Mary University, in 2009. She’s a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor dedicated to helping youth and families who’ve experienced trauma on their road to healing. She has worked with clients in outpatient, in-patient and community settings. She is the Placement Services Clinical Supervisor at All Faiths Children's Advocacy Center, where she supports the Placement Services team with their critical work with birth parents and adoptive families. Sonya believes in building community resiliency one family at a time.
Rebecca Rendon de Gonzales, LMHC
Adoptions Clinical Specialist
Rebecca finds serving others in a capacity that allows her to walk beside them on their path is humbling and rewarding. Being present as a witness, advocate, and a helping hand is a passion that nurtures her soul and spirit. The opportunity to serve families struggling with loved ones experiencing mental illness, through NAMI, fostered a desire to do more for her community. In her current capacity working with birth and adoptive families, she endeavors to offer choices, guidance, and education while genuinely providing support from beginning to end.
Julie Velazquez, LCSW
Adoption Therapist
Julie is a native New Mexican who has spent her career working with children and families who seek to strengthen community connections and heal from trauma. She believes that every child deserves a safe and loving home. She is honored to support birth mothers on their chosen path.
Evelyn Michelman,
DONA Doula
Lead Family Services Advocate and Adoptions Placement Worker
Evelyn's journey at All Faiths Children's Advocacy Center began in 1999, and over the years, she has taken on multiple roles, demonstrating her commitment to our mission of support and compassion. Currently serving as Lead Family Services Advocate and Adoptions Placement Worker, Evelyn has continuously exemplified excellence in her work.
In July of 2023, Evelyn achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming a certified DONA Doula. This certification marks a significant expansion of her role within our Adoptions Program, where she will now offer invaluable support to Birth Mothers.
This new service as a DONA Doula enables her to provide comprehensive support to Birth Mothers throughout their pregnancy journeys. With her wealth of experience in handling trauma in both adults and children, coupled with a Bachelor's degree in Women and Gender Studies, Evelyn's skill set is poised to make a substantial impact in the delivery room.
Many of the Birth Mothers we serve at All Faiths Adoptions have endured Complex Trauma and often grapple with addiction. These challenges can compound the already intense experience of childbirth. Her focus is to make a difference by bringing compassion and trauma-informed care into the delivery room.
Evelyn's mission is to transform the birthing experience, making it less traumatic for the baby, the mother, and the adoptive parents. She firmly believes that there is no shame in trauma, and every individual deserves the opportunity to heal. With her support, Birth Mothers will find strength and understanding during a crucial chapter of their lives.
Evelyn Michelman's journey at All Faiths Adoptions is a testament to the power of empathy, and a relentless commitment to making a positive impact. We look forward to seeing the transformative effect of her work in the lives of Birth Mothers and their families.
All Faiths Adoption Services is a program of All Faiths Children’s Advocacy Center, which is the largest Child Advocacy Center in New Mexico, serving children and their families for more than 60 years. Based in Albuquerque, the mission of All Faiths Children’s Advocacy Center is to be the trusted advocates for children and families affected by trauma - working towards creating a New Mexico where children are safe and families thrive. As the leading child welfare and advocacy agency in New Mexico, All Faiths Children’s Advocacy Center has an informed understanding of the needs of children and families in our community. Creating All Faiths Adoption Services provides an opportunity to support the journey to parenthood in all forms of diversity, ensuring that children in New Mexico grow up in safe and loving households.