PACE: Post-Adoption Coaching & Education
Meet One on One with an Adoption-Competent Professional
All parents encounter challenges as their children grow up. And sometimes, issues may arise that leave you uncertain as to how best to respond — but not every issue requires therapy or counseling. The PACE program is here to help during those times.
Through Holt’s PACE program, you and your family will work one on one with an trauma-informed, adoption-competent Holt professional over three sessions to identify strategies, tools and resources that will help address the specific issue or issues you and your child are struggling with.
Whether the challenge you’re facing is related to adoption or just typical developmental growing pains, each session will be conducted over a free video communications software that is secure and easy to use, works on any device, and allows you to set up wherever is most comfortable and convenient for you.
PACE Can Help with these Common Issues
While every family situation is unique, some common issues include:
- Managing behavior
- Attachment/bonding
- Sleep disruptions
- Food issues
- Grief and loss
- Development
- Transitions (school, life, etc.)
- School challenges
- Identity
- Sibling rivalry
- Trauma
- Managing discipline
- Relationship changes with adult adoptees
- Birth issues/life books
Sign up today!
For more information about the PACE program and to sign up, please email us!
Family Testimonial on PACE Benefits
When John and Anne C. first heard about Holt’s Post-Adoption Coaching & Education (PACE) program, they were immediately interested. One of the challenges their family faced was separation. Even when Anne went to the bathroom, Chaopan didn’t understand that she would come back.
“Carolyn suggested I cuddle him before parting and then rush back. When I rushed back the first day telling him I missed him, it was like a spell broke. He was suddenly OK with me going to the bathroom alone! It felt like an amazing gift.”
Anne C., adoptive parent. Read more about her family’s experience here.
Meet the PACE Professionals at Holt
Carolyn Cain, MSW
Carolyn is an adoption social worker in Holt’s California branch office and a supervisor for Holt’s Post-Adoption Coaching & Education (PACE) program. She completed her bachelor’s degree in human services and earned a master’s degree in social work from California State University, Long Beach. Carolyn has a passion for helping adoptive families through their entire adoption process and life experience and has worked in both international adoption and foster care. Carolyn is married and has five children, two of whom were adopted from China through Holt.
Lindsay Lanham, MSW
Lindsay began her career as a child welfare caseworker in 2004 and then served as a child welfare adoption supervisor. After over a decade in field practice, Lindsay transitioned to child welfare research and policy. In collaboration with state agencies, Lindsay had the opportunity to work on a variety of child welfare related research projects, including evaluations that examine racial disproportionality, parent-child visitation, and training competencies for social workers, foster parents, and relative placement providers. Lindsay has also worked directly with state legislators to draft and implement state policy aimed at creating a more responsive child welfare system for parents and children. Deeply informed by child welfare history, a steadfast commitment to cultural humility is interwoven throughout Lindsay’s work. Lindsay received her master’s degree from the University of Washington School of Social Work, where she was a fellowship recipient. Lindsay currently lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.
Samantha Sutherland
Samantha Sutherland has over 10 years of experience working with children and families. Samantha began her career as a middle school teacher before earning a master’s degree in social work from The University of Texas at Austin. She also has experience working with Child Protective Services, private foster agencies and in community counseling. Samantha is passionate about helping families and children find stability and happiness.
Danielle M. Smith, MSW
Danielle joined Holt International in 2016 after working in the adoption field for more than 26 years. Her experience includes international, domestic and special needs adoption. Danielle has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana. A married mother of two sons, Danielle also has personal experience in international adoption as she has a sister who joined her family through adoption from India and a niece who joined their family through adoption from China. Danielle loves working with children and families, especially in adoption. “Working with children and families in the adoption field has always been a passion of mine,” she says. “I am excited to work with Holt International and assist families in their adoption journey.”
Cara Smith, MSW / C SW
Cara is a Holt Korea adoptee who grew up in Nebraska. She became a social worker because of her desire to work with adoptive families! She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology & Sociology from Northwest Missouri State University in 2010 and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Kansas in 2013. She went on to work in child welfare in Kansas for six years, doing direct work with foster care and adoption. In 2019, she moved back to Nebraska to begin her work with Holt- her ultimate dream job! She is a Branch Social Worker who supports families in Nebraska and Iowa through their adoption process. She also does some additional work with our Waiting Child Program and Post Adoption Services.
Kaitlin Torrenzano, LSW
Kaitlin began working with Holt in the programs department in 2008 . After moving to the east coast in 2011, she earned her Master’s of Social Work from New York University and returned to Holt in 2016 as a direct Social Worker.
Stories Written by Our PACE Professionals
Adoption
