Meet our Birthparent Specialists

As Director of Counseling & Family Support Services, Erika is responsible for overseeing all functions of the full-service Infant Adoption Program, State Wide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) program, county foster care placement services, and counseling services. Erika also works directly with clients providing outpatient counseling sessions and running monthly support groups. Erika was integral in starting up the SWAN program and county foster care placement services at The Children’s Home, beginning in 2012. She also more recently began expanding the program’s Outpatient Mental Health Counseling Services, which now serves children, adults, couples and families with a broad range of specialty areas.

Erika has been at The Children’s Home since 2006, working as a birthparent counselor, birthparent counseling services supervisor, and manager of the SWAN Program, prior to becoming Director of Adoption & Permanency Services in early 2019. Prior to her position at The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, Erika worked for over 4 years as a Psychiatric Specialty Counselor for an adolescent drug and alcohol research program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and remained on staff as a Behavioral Health Counselor, conducting diagnostic interviews and performing program management duties on a casual basis until May of 2018. She earned both a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Master’s Degree in Social Work through The University of Pittsburgh and obtained her social work license in 2006.

Brittany began working at The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center in May of 2015 as a Permanency Social Worker. Brittany currently works as a Birthparent Specialist, helping birthparents navigate the adoption process and providing counseling and support before, during, and after placement. Brittany also helps to prepare children for permanency by delivering Child Preparation, Child Profile, Child Specific Recruitment, and Family Profile units of service through the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN). Prior to this position, Brittany had previous internships at Three Rivers Adoption Council and A Second Chance, Inc. Brittany earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Child Development and Family Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh.