We are Experienced specialists with the goal of
connecting children with their new families.

Andrea Stawitcke
Executive Director

Janet Shirley
Overseas Program Coordinator

Janet Shirley has been working as the Overseas Program Coordinator for BAAS since 1990. She has assisted hundreds of families in choosing the best country program for their adoption and follows the families as they continue on in their adoption process.

Janet has lived and worked extensively in Central America and is currently involved in volunteer work in Uganda, Rwanda and South Africa. In 1988, Janet and her husband adopted their son, Miguel, from Honduras, thanks to BAAS' help and assistance. Since that time, Janet and family have returned to Honduras so that their son could meet his birth family and become familiar with his birth country. Miguel is now 18 years old and attending junior college in the north bay.

For Ms. Shirley, there is nothing more satisfying than to assist singles and couples in building their families through international adoption. "For me, adoption has been the greatest gift and joy of all. It gives me great satisfaction to help others now in their adoption journey."

Darian Chan
CIS Coordinator & Homestudy Specialist

"With so many changes to international adoption recently - particularly with the Hague - this job has been a challenge but keeps things interesting as processes are constantly changing and evolving. Whether it’s answering clients’ questions about the immigration process or coordinating with liaison agencies, I love knowing that what I’m doing is ultimately leading to one of the most incredible things: building families!"

Craig Forte, LCSW
Social Worker Supervisor

Craig is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over twenty-five years of experience. He has worked in mental health, psychiatric and medical settings. Aside form his work with BAAS, he has a private psychotherapy practice in Palo Alto. Craig is also an Adjunct Clinical Faulty Member of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine. Craig’s passion is international travel.

Xiaoqing Cai
China Program Coordinator

"I consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to do this work – to have this opportunity to help build families. It is the perfect work for me- I can use my language ability and knowledge of two cultures. I love the children and I love to work with the families.  They are wonderful and appreciate what I do.”

Sharmeela Shah, MSW, LCSW
India Program Director

Sharmeela is a highly experienced social worker having worked extensively with families and children in a variety of mental health and community settings over the past twenty years.  She has her Masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and from Columbia University, New York. 

She joined the BAAS social work staff in 2006 and has been developing and coordinating the BAAS India program since June 2007.   Having grown up in Mumbai, Sharmeela is fluent in three Indian languages.   She communicates and transitions with ease and familiarity between the work culture in India and USA.

“Coordinating the India program is an exciting and immensely satisfying opportunity for me.  I have a great deal of respect for the families I work with; their patience and determination in overcoming the many challenges of international adoption are truly impressive.   Being a part of their journey as they open up their hearts and home to a child in need is a gratifying experience.”

Lindsey Caldwell
Office Administrator

“I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work for BAAS.  When I was just six months old, my parents adopted me from Guatemala-and forever changed my path in life.  All of which was made possible by BAAS.  When I was younger I did some volunteer work through BAAS and really enjoyed working with Janet Shirley and sharing my experience about being adopted.  After recently visiting Guatemala and really finding myself, I knew I wanted to work for a cause that I could really stand behind.  I moved back from the East Bay to the South Bay and stumbled upon an opening at BAAS.  I couldn't be more excited to be working for the exact same organization that made it possible for my family to be just that- a family.  I can only hope to be a positive addition to the wonderful staff and help to keep up the amazing legacy BAAS has created and maintained for over 25 years."

Akihiko “Aki” Speed
Document Specialist

“I became involved with Bay Area Adoption Services in December of 1996 when my wife and I attended an initial orientation. We decided to adopt through Bay Area Adoption Services because of the sense of community that Bay Area Adoption Services gave us. Even before we brought our daughter home from Japan in March of 1999, I became a parent volunteer, as an Initial Orientation Presenter and eventually as a Pre-Adopt Class Instructor. Being an adoptive parent, I can appreciate the anxiety and emotions that comes with adopting internationally and do my best to encourage the families who are now embarking on their adoption journey. Knowing how much of an impact having my daughter in my life has had on me. It truly is an honor and a privilege to somehow be able to help a child find a loving family that will love and take of him/her for the rest of their lives.”

“I see my role as the office manager at Bay Area Adoption Services as one of support, that brings together my background in Operations, Human Resources, and Information Technology. Bay Area Adoption Services has been able develop and maintain a team of fantastic and dedicated parent volunteers and staff who all work towards fulfilling its mission statement of finding and supporting loving, able parents for orphaned, abandoned or relinquished children; while keeping the child's welfare as their primary concern. I look forward to coming to work everyday and I am constantly thinking about how I can somehow be of more assistance to the parent volunteers, the staff and the families we are all trying to help. It is a pleasure to be able to work for such a wonderful organization."