Haven Adoptions is made up of individuals who are experienced in the adoption process and passionate about helping families. Our staff members are experts in the various aspects of adoption and are ready to help you with your adoption journey.
Haven has a shared passion for adoption and a solid reputation in the adoption field. They are known for the highest level of personal service, support for clients and kindness and compassion for all those going through the process of adoption. They came together to create an adoption agency to provide hope and a fresh start to all families they work with. To better lives. To make a change in the world of adoption. To educate the community. To be involved. To make a difference.
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Kelly Weidner grew up in Alexandria, VA with her parents and two sisters. Kelly found her calling in social work after working on a homeless teens project with the Covenant House in Washington, DC when she was a junior at Bishop Ireton High School. She headed to Pennsylvania to attend Villanova University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services in 1999. After graduation, Kelly began her social work career at Carson Valley School, a residential treatment facility, working with adolescent boys with behavioral difficulties for 5 years. She then became a teacher and taught for 5 years. Both of these positions played a key role in her transition to adoption. Kelly had extensive experience in adoption as a caseworker and supervisor at a previous agency and worked with hundreds of adoptive families as well as biological parent families. Kelly is a strong leader for Haven and a well respected advocate in the adoption community.
Kelly Weidner is a co-founder of Haven Adoptions, Inc and shares her passion for adoption with her co-founder, Sarah Magarity. Haven Adoptions has worked to create a new standard in the field of adoption and two years ago started their foster care division. In 4 years Haven has completed 29 adoptions, 22 foster care placements, and 32 assisted adoptions.
Kelly is a member of the National Association for Professional Women, on the Executive Committee of the Our Lady of Mercy Board of Jurisdiction and lives in Ambler, PA with her three children.
“After playing many different roles in social work over the last 19 years, I have found where I belong in the field of adoption. Every day I look forward to going to work, making new relationships and best of all, helping children find homes. It is truly a blessing to love what you do and I am so thankful for being a part of the foster care and adoption process for each and every one of our families.”
Co-Founder, Director of Family Services
Sarah Magarity grew up in Oreland, Pennsylvania with her parents and brother, Kevin. From a young age, Sarah envisioned her adult life to be working with children. Sarah completed her undergraduate degree at Penn State University in Human Development and Family Studies which led her to her first social work experience through an internship before graduation. Sarah interned at Carson Valley School, a residential treatment facility for children with behavioral difficulties. Upon graduating, she accepted a full-time social work position and continued as a social worker at Carson Valley. While working full time, Sarah completed a two-year graduate program. Sarah graduated with a Masters in Education from Chestnut Hill College and then moved on to pursue a teaching career for the next six years, working closely with students and their parents. After taking 2 years to stay at home to care for her family, Sarah began working for a local adoption agency. A few of her major achievements were creating the Embryo Adoption and Donation Program and starting a Surrogacy Matching Program.
Sarah Magarity is the co-founder of Haven Adoptions, Inc. and works hard to make the adoptive parent program the best it can be. Sarah’s warm and inviting nature helps make all of our new families feel welcome into the Haven family. Sarah has supported countless adoptive families throughout the adoption process and has ongoing relationships with many of them. Sarah has a passion for helping families reach their ultimate dream; completing their family. She feels lucky every day to work with close friend Kelly and their incredible staff to make dreams come true. Sarah lives in Oreland, PA with her husband and three children.
“There are many reasons why I love my job. The overall feeling of helping adoptive families fulfill their dream of being parents has to rank highest. There are many adoptive parents who start the adoption process because they want to complete their family. Being a part of that process is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. My passion for adoption stems from my experience and love of social work and education. Through years of being a social worker and educator, I have formed many meaningful connections with people. Adoption allows me to continue to connect with so many wonderful families and children. It’s the best of both worlds. There are many adoptive families with whom I continue to have a relationship with beyond the finalization of their adoption. When you travel through an adoption journey with a family, you experience very meaningful and intense emotions. You become close to the families you work with. I love receiving emails, phone calls and/or pictures from families I’ve worked with. The friendships and connections that I have through adoption are invaluable.”
Biological Parent Case Manager
Kayla Mazzotta has 11 years of experience in the adoption field. Kayla explored the many different realms of adoption and found her place working directly with biological parents. Kayla’s warm and friendly nature helps make the people she works with feel comfortable and cared for. The individuals with whom Kayla works know that she is always looking out for their best interest. Kayla lives in Philadelphia, PA.
“I have the opportunity to impact the lives of individuals in my community by helping them make the best plan they can for their family. The experiences I have working with birth parents are intensely emotional yet highly rewarding. The people I have met along the way have taught me invaluable lessons about love and sacrifice. I am lucky to meet and connect with so many different people and I appreciate what I have learned from each one of my clients. Every day I learn something new from the brave women and men who pursue adoption.”
Adoption Case Manager
Meghann Chiappa has a long history of working with families in many different capacities. For five years, Meghann worked at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), helping the families of military personnel to access and utilize any benefits for which they were eligible. While working at Veterans Affairs, Meghann obtained her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She worked as an outpatient therapist at the Lenape Valley Foundation, providing counseling services to individuals, couples, and families. She truly enjoyed being a part of her clients’ journey to a healthier and more fulfilling life.
After having children, Meghann transitioned into the field of adoption. She worked for over two years at a local adoption agency and found it to be a rewarding and meaningful experience, which has helped her excel in her role as Adoption Case Manager at Haven. Meghann puts the needs of her adoptive parents first and is always looking out for their best interest. Meghann lives in Ambler, PA with her husband and 2 children.
“In my time working in the field of adoption, I have met truly amazing families. I consider it an honor to be a part of a family’s adoption journey. I am constantly inspired by families and their honesty, bravery, compassion, and resilience.”
Biological Parent Counselor
Brie McMullin is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor with over 7 years of experience in the behavioral health care field. Brie received her Master’s in Clinical Counseling Psychology from LaSalle University and has worked with a diverse population of people, varying in ages from children to adults, who struggle with mental health and/or addiction disorders. Brie is certified in cognitive therapy and has training in dialectical behavioral therapy. By utilizing an eclectic approach to therapy, Brie strives to provide adequate support to birth mothers to aid them in effectively coping with the challenges that pregnancy and adoption can bring.
“Since working with Haven Adoptions, I have learned how important it is to have a supportive and collaborative team to help all individuals, including birth mothers and adoptive families, throughout the adoption process. Since recently having my first child, I have developed a passion for helping create happier and healthier families. I want to thank all of my clients that allow me to be a part of such an amazing process!”
Foster Care Case Manager
Hunter Milroy grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor of Social Work at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He worked in child welfare, prior to attending Bryn Mawr College to earn his Master of Social Services. In graduate school, Hunter was a Junior Fellow at Bryn Mawr’s center for Child and Family Well-Being, studying Adverse Childhood Experience Studies (ACES) and trauma-informed social work. Hunter has a background of working with children and families in various capacities from being a community-based social worker with refugees, children with complex medical needs, families facing poverty, and other marginalized communities. In his free time, Hunter enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with family.
Adoptive Parent Case Manager
Alaina Mitros has been working in fields that center around children and their families for several years. She grew up in Glenside, Pennsylvania with her parents and three brothers. As a young person, Alaina knew that she would pursue a career in education or social work, seeking to benefit the lives of children. In college, Alaina worked full time as a manager in a local grocery store, growing her communication skills and “people skills” in ways that would have long-standing effects. She worked as a nanny as well, which kept her love of education and care-taking active. In 2012, Alaina graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Secondary Education.
Alaina immediately went to work after college as a Managing Director in a remedial learning center in Abington, Pennsylvania. This gave her hands on experiences with a vast array of students and their families, all of whom came to the center with different backgrounds socially, economically, and educationally. This role challenged Alaina and helped her to grow professionally in leaps and bounds. Although this experience was invaluable, Alaina knew that she wanted to move on from it to teach in a classroom of her own.
Today, Alaina teaches middle school English Language Arts at Queen of Angels, a private school in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Her interest in working in the adoption field comes from so many years of experience strengthening her ability to connect with people and to serve families in need of an advocate. Alaina lives in Abington, Pennsylvania with her husband and her dog.
“I am so passionate about the work that I do as a caseworker at Haven Adoptions because it allows me to fulfill my dream of bonding with people on a daily basis and helping to serve others. I feel blessed to be able to meet so many special people seeking to open their lives and hearts to adoption. The staff at Haven are incredible, supportive, and professional women. Most importantly, they CARE.”
Adoptive Parent Case Manager
Jeanne McGee has been working with children and families for over 10 years. Jeanne grew up in Bucks county with a large family of three brothers and four sisters. Jeanne knew that she wanted to work in the field of social work as a teenager after her sister suffered from severe depression growing up and a close family member was killed in the world trade center on 9-11. Since then, Jeanne has always set out to help people in different capacities. Jeanne earned her Bachelor’s in social work from West Chester University and her Master’s in social work from Bryn Mawr College. Jeanne also became a Licensed Social Worker in 2013.
Jeanne started her career in Foster Care after college for two years and then immediately started working in adoption. Jeanne has worked in all aspects of adoption from casework to supervision, but her passion is working with birth parents and adoptive families. Jeanne started working for Haven in 2015 but left in 2017 to take some time off to be home with her children. Jeanne returned to Haven in 2020 and is excited to be back working in the field she loves.
“I feel so blessed to be able to work with Haven in the field of adoption. I have always had a special place in my heart for the amazing women who choose adoption for their children and the courageous families who build their families through adoption. The Haven family is an incredibly supportive agency, and I am honored to be able to work with them. They have always put people ahead of business and it is an honor to learn from these strong women.”
Adoptive Parent Case Manager
Kristen grew up in central Pennsylvania with her parents and brother. She graduated from the University of Maryland with an undergraduate degree in Family Studies and then went on to complete her Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Kristen received her certification to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and worked for a private agency as a psychotherapist. She joins Haven after having several years of home study and post placement experience in the Washington, D.C. area. Kristen now resides in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area with her husband and four sons.
“Throughout my social work career, I have always had a special place in my heart working in the adoption field. It is a true gift to witness families being brought together and I am grateful to be a part of that journey. I am thrilled to join this special team at Haven. It is a joy to be connected with others that share the same passion for finding safe and loving homes for children while making sure that all parties involved have access to the support and resources that they deserve.”
Adoptive Parent Case Manager
Marnie grew up in Meridian, Idaho and lived in California, Utah, Texas, and Colorado before moving to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in May 2019. She has worked in child and family services for the last six years. She obtained her Bachelors degree in Marriage and Family Studies from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2015 and her Masters degree in Social Work from Boise State University in 2020. Prior to joining the Haven Adoptions team as an Adoptive Parent Case Manager, she worked as a Permanency Social Worker for The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, a Kinship Caregiver Program Social Worker for Catholic Charities, and a Family Educator for Head Start.
Marnie’s love for adoption began over a decade ago when fhe first of five nieces and nephews joined her family through adoption. From then on she set her sights on a career in adoption and foster care.
When Marnie isn’t working, she can be found exploring the Pittsburgh area with her husband and newborn son.
Adoptive Parent Case Manager
Katie grew up in the surrounding suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling and is working on a doctorate in Counseling Psychology. Through these different educational experiences, Katie has been able to work with children and families in many different environments. She currently is a therapist at a therapeutic summer camp, as well as a mental health clinician at a private practice that specializes in neurodiversity. She also has experience working with Family-Based Services providing support to parents and children experiencing a variety of difficulties. In each of these settings, Katie greatly values the positive relationship between clinician and client. She strives to bring this value into her work at Haven.
Adoption Case Manager
Brian was born just outside of Washington, DC in Tacoma Park, MD, though most of his childhood was spent in Tappahannock, VA. In 1996 Brian headed back to Tacoma Park where he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Communications right across the street from the hospital where he was born. Brian now splits his time between Washington, DC and the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in South Carolina. When in the DC area Brian and his wife Tracy work as professional tour guides taking 8th graders from all over the United States to see our Nation’s Capital. When not on tour, he works as a case manager for Haven. Most of Brian’s life has been spent working with children so helping families to grow through adoption or helping families to open their homes to a foster child in need allows him to keep helping kids.
Open adoption and closed adoptions are very common, but both come with their share of details. Knowing the difference between these options available to birth families and adoptive families can create a relationship that works well for everyone.
Can you place a child for adoption without the father's consent? We explain all the details to this complicated question.
Before you make the decision to place your child for adoption, you may have many questions about the process. After many years of facilitating adoptions, we have a few facts birth mothers like to know before choosing adoption for their baby.
