About Us


Personal Note from Director

Executive Director and Attorney
at Law, Member of Illinois Bar

I have been blessed with a career in adoption that has spanned almost twenty years. Adoption has been a great source of inspiration for me as I work with birth parents making such courageous and responsible choices to place their children for adoption. These are very special people whose decisions should be admired and respected. As an adoption professional, my desire is to help each birth parent find peace in their decision and do whatever is possible to lend a helping hand during this process.

Over the past decades I’ve also witnessed the beauty of parents who seek adoption for many reasons and whose decision to choose adoption to form their families is such a testament to the human spirit and an understanding of our interconnectedness – after all, it sometimes takes a village.

My goal and mission in working with waiting families and birth parents is to bring compassion, knowledgeable, and integrity to each journey and to honor the path I’ve been given.

Warm Regards,
Candace O’Brien


Michelle Ross
Social Work Supervisor

Michelle has been working with Adopt America for over five years. Michelle obtained her L.C.S.W. in 1998 and has been involved in the foster care and adoption community for almost 20 years. Michelle has been a Guardian Ad Litem and is herself an adoptive mother. Michelle provides home study services and supervises all Adopt America’s home studies.


Susan Stockham
Agency Attorney

Susan Stockham represents Adopt America in our Florida adoptions. We are honored to have her as part of the team. Susan has been practicing law since 1982 and is a Florida Board Certified Adoption Law Attorney and a member of the prestigious American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and Assisted Reproductive Law Attorneys. Susan is a recipient of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s 2004 Angel in Adoption Award; Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Adoption Council, and has served on many state and national committees on adoption. Susan also serves on the Florida Bar Adoption Law Board Certification Committee.