Angels in - Pound Pup Legacy

Utah
Christena Christensen
Senator Orrin Hatch
Christena is a passionate advocate for adoption
education being in a unique position to share her
personal experiences as the grandparent of a child
placed for adoption. Several years ago, her
youngest daughter made an adoption plan for the
baby she was expecting. As she helps people to see
adoption as a positive option for women
experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, Christena’s
story has touched hearts throughout the country
through her extensive schedule of speaking
engagements. Between January 2001 and
December 2002, she gave educational presentations
on adoption-related topics to almost 8,000
individuals. Today she tirelessly continues her
volunteer efforts to reach as many people as
possible. Christena believes in her message of hope
for those in crisis pregnancies. Her service, as well
as her continued willingness to teach others and
dispel negative perceptions on adoption, truly
qualifies her as an Angel in Adoption.
Vermont
Diane Dexter
Senator James Jeffords and Senator Patrick Leahy
Since 1993 Diane has been the State Adoption
Director for Vermont’s Social & Rehabilitative
Services (SRS). Prior to assuming her current role,
she worked for six years at the Social and
Rehabilitative Services office in Barre, providing
adoption and child protection casework. In spring
of 2000, Diane worked with Wanda Audette (a
2002 Angel in Adoption of the Lund Family Center
to create Project Family, a federally funded initiative
that finds homes for foster children throughout
Vermont. Project Family also offers a variety of
resources to new adoptive parents, including preand
post-adoptive counseling, adoption finalization
services and post-placement visits. Diane has
worked to secure additional funding for a new
phase of Project Family that will, over the next five
years, coordinate efforts to recruit rural Vermont
families to become involved in adoption. Because of
her dedication to the children and families of
Vermont and the respect of her colleagues, Diane is
our Angel in Adoption .
Virginia
Bethany Christian Services of
Fredericksburg
Representative Jo Ann Davis
Since 1944, Bethany Christian Services has been
restoring, preserving, and building families through
a comprehensive range of therapeutic and adoption
services. Bethany provides free pregnancy
counseling to expectant parents, assists women
who plan to make an adoption plan in need of
housing, food, and clothing, provides domestic and
international adoption services to the community,
and recruits loving permanent families for children
with special needs. For its extensive work
nationwide and globally, Bethany is a recognized
leader in the field of domestic, international, and
special needs adoptions.
Bethany Christian Services of Fredericksburg,
Virginia, has seen significant growth in the past 18
months. Fueled by the efforts of a few hard
working and dedicated individuals, the
Fredericksburg community has benefited from the
vital services Bethany has to offer. Within the last
year, 12 young women have made adoption plans
for their children, the number of international
adoptions has increased, and the office now
supervises an outreach program in the Richmond
area offering free pregnancy counseling to young
women considering adoption. Under the leadership
of Virginia Branch Director Constance Barry and the
hard work of Director of Clinical Services Joan
Richwine, MSW and Social Worker trainer Louise M.
Motsko, Bethany Christian Services of
Fredericksburg is an active advocate for adoption in
the Fredericksburg community.
Bethany Christian Services of
Hampton Roads
Senator George Allen
Bethany Christian Service of Hampton Roads
opened in 1991 and was soon recognized as a
licensed, independent branch office in the Bethany
national system in 1995. Locally, Bethany offers a
number of valuable services to the community
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