Staff 

Candice Charles

Social Services Manager

Candice joined AHH in October of 2011. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, with a BA in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Social Work. Candice is also a Certified Social Worker in the State of Kentucky. In the past, Candice has worked professionally with children in mental health and educational settings. She believes children are one of God's greatest gifts, and feels it a privilege to work in the field of adoption.

Candice lives near Lexington with her husband and son. She enjoys nature, reading, and spending time with family.

Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

Beth Button

Domestic Program Director

Beth Button joined A Helping Hand in July of 2004 as a home study provider and is now the domestic adoption program director.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in Family Science from Brigham Young University and has worked with families and children for several years. She has always had a heart for adoption and has found working in this field to be very rewarding.  She has a sister who is adopted and her family has been touched by adoption in many other ways as well.  She and her husband live in Shelbyville, Kentucky and have 3 children.

Mike Ginter
Travel Services Manager /Family Advocate

Mike is originally from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, and a graduate of Asbury University, Wilmore, KY. Prior to joining AHH staff Mike served as a  missionary to the Island of Jamaica for seven and a half years - three and a half years in community outreach and four years as director of operations for Christian Service International (CSI Ministries). Mike also worked in social services and social work with severely, behaviorally and emotionally disturbed children in therapeutic foster care placement .

Dana Woods
Family Advocate - Special Needs Program / Birthmother Intake

Dana joined AHH in May, 2007 as a Family Advocate for the China program. Dana attended Eastern Kentucky University where she received an Associate of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Family Studies.  “It's an incredible feeling to assist in joining a waiting child with his or her forever family!"  Dana is a single mom of three - one toddler, one teen and one in-between.  She is raising her family in the same small rural community where she grew up with lots of family and friends nearby.  In her spare time, Dana enjoys her children and takes pleasure in reading, baking and scrapbooking. 

Maria Kovaleski
Family Advocate

Maria Kovaleski was born and raised in Puerto Rico.  She went to the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, and later, while living in Vicenza, Italy, took courses in speech and communication at the European Campus of Maryland College.  She is fluent in Spanish and English and can speak some Italian.  She feels blessed to have lived in various southern states of the U.S., Europe, Mexico and the Middle East while her husband was active duty in the U.S. Army for 22 years.  She has been married to Peter for 31 years and has two children, Helen and Steven and three grandchildren, Kaden, Edrick, and Kaleb.

For the five years before coming to AHH, Maria was doing ministry work in orphanages in Mexico. She believes we have an awesome God who has done miracles in her life, and she also has experienced that “He will answer before we even call.” Isaiah 65:24

Rita Cleary

Post Adoption Coordinator/ Social Services Assistant

Rita has been with A Helping Hand Adoption Agency since January 2005.  She worked as the receptionist and did Dossier Prep at AHH before taking the position of Post Adoption Coordinator. Her favorite part of her current position is seeing the pictures of the children with their new forever families.

In the past she worked as a medical insurance clerk and volunteered at a crisis pregnancy center.

Rita and her husband live in Lexington and have two grown sons. In her spare time she loves to spend time with her grandson and three granddaughters.

"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. " Hebrews 13:20-21.

Vickie Birkheimer
Financial Assistant

Vickie spent 21 years as a Master Cosmetologist in Brazil, IN where she also studied music at Indiana State University. She moved to Grayson, KY in 1990 to work at Kentucky Christian College as a telecommunications office manager, and later, as administrative assistant to the Bible and Ministries Department.

In February 2000, Vickie moved to Lexington, KY to work at Southland Christian Church as ministry assistant to single adults. There she met Kent Birkheimer who soon became her best friend. One year later, Kent and Vickie were married (December 15, 2001). On June 3, 2002 Vickie accepted the position of administrative assistant with A Helping Hand and loves serving God by helping place homeless children in homes where they will be loved and nurtured. She has served as our Financial Assistant for the last 4 years.

Her favorite Scriptures are Psalm 34 and Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or dream..." Dare to dream; He is faithful!

Anne Hodge

AHH Home Study Provider / Domestic Program Case worker

Anne Hodge has been with A Helping Hand since March of 2002. Prior to coming to AHH, Anne worked for the Cabinet for Families and Health Services for 12 years specializing in child protection and domestic violence services. Anne also was a Family Services Office Supervisor for the Fayette County Child Abuse Hotline and Domestic Violence Team.

Anne resides in Lexington, KY with her husband and two sons. She feels very blessed to be a part of the AHH family and is thankful that God led her to the wonderful world of adoption.

International Partners

China Team

At A Helping Hand, we are one of a handful of agencies that has a team of people exclusively working with our clients. Many agencies work with a facilitator that works for a number of agencies. Because of our special relationship with our China workers we will are able to give your case a priority in China. Our China team provides translation services and is in constant contact with the CCAA. They also arrange all of the in-country travel and many times will travel with our families as they adopt.

Alison Yu is our China CCAA Liason.

Cynthia Vallejo
Guatemala Partner - God Bless the Children

Cynthia Vallejo directs God Bless the Children in Guatemala City, and is A Helping Hand's attorney partner for all adoptions completed through Guatemala City.

Cynthia has a great burden for poor children who will not be placed for adoption, as well as the birthmothers of those children who are adopted. She directs many outreach works for poor children, and works tirelessly to help birthmothers break out of the lifestyle problems that prevent them from parenting.

Top