The Coalition is in a unique place to intimately and deeply understand families needs and strengths.
The Coalition was incorporated in 1975 by adoptive parents to be an independent voice and support organization for adoptive families.
We have over four decades of experience working with and understanding the strengths and needs of post-adoptive and post-guardianship families. In addition, our leadership (including staff, board members and advisory committee members) is racially, culturally and geographically diverse. The Coalition is primarily comprised of adoptive and foster parents, adult adoptees, foster alumni, birth parents who relinquished children, and individuals raised in guardianship families. We have key stakeholders who are recognized leaders in culturally competent services and working with older, disconnected youth. The combination of professional credentials, life experience of being part of the adoption triad and passion for the mission of supporting adoptive families is powerful and differentiates the Coalition from others in the child welfare field.
Board of Directors
The Coalition has a volunteer based Board of Directors.
Tom Draffen
Vice President
Jeanne Cloppse
Board of Directors
Susanna Furfaro M.D.
Board of Directors
Vanessa Bangser
Board of Directors
Danielle Maniscalco
Board of Directors
Kathy Urbina
Board of Directors
Robin Bramwell-Stewart
Board of Directors
- For general board inquiries, please reach out to: boardinquiries@affcny.org  Â
- For membership inquiries, please reach out to: membership@affcny.org
- For invited NYC United Way Boardserve Members, please see: https://affcny.org/bod/
Staff
Our staff is located throughout the state, but we are all connected.Â
You can reach anyone though the main phone number, the HelpLine or by their extension listed below.
Pat O’Brien
Executive Director pat@affcny.org 646.688.4321
Amanda Calo
Data Coordinator | Assistant to the Associate Executive Director of Programs amanda@affcny.org | 646-688-4321 X1009
Claudia Corrigan D’Arcy
Associate Executive Director of Communications claudia@affcny.org 646.688.4321
Caryl Svendsen Deiches
Family Support Specialist caryl@affcny.org 631-598-1983
Kathryn Doyle-Bunker
Family Support Specialist katie@affcny.org 845-679-9900
Amy Drayer
Associate Executive Director of Programs amy@affcny.org 646-688-4321 X1009
Ellen Earley
Family Support Specialist ellen@affcny.org 607-272-0034
Selene Ferguson
Family Advocacy Specialist selene@affcny.org | 631.598.1983
Samantha Fuhrman
AGAPE Long Island Director samantha@affcny.org 631.598.1983
Ana Gundlach
Administrative Coordinator ana@affcny.org 607.272-.0034
Rama Haidara
Family Support Specialist rama@affcny.org | 607-272-0034
Renee Hettich
Lead AGAPE Director renee@affcny.org 607.272.0034
Michele Hochstetter
Family Support Specialist michele@affcny.org 607.272.0034
Chester Jackson
HelpLine Coordinator chester@affcny.org |Â 888.80.HELPLINE
Trudy Kent
AGAPE Hudson Valley Director trudy@affcny.org 845.679.9900
John Kirkman
Family Support Specialist johnk@affcny.org | 607-272-0034
Richard Lefebvre
Administrative Coordinator rich@affcny.org 631.598.1983
Andrea Marinelli
Family Support Specialist andrea@affcny.org 631.598.1983
Felix A. Marquez
Family Support Specialist felix@affcny.org | Â 631.598.1983
Chauntavia Rausch Moran
Family Support Assistant (Mentor) chauntavia@affcny.org
McDonald "Mac" Morris
Youth Program Coordinator mac@affcny.org 607.272.0034
Alicia Murray
Family Support Specialist alicia@affcny.org |Â 888.354.3757Â Â
Annette O’Connell
Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator | Assistant to the Associate Executive Director of Communication annette@affcny.org | (845)-679-9900
Angela Paganelli
Family Support Specialist angela@affcny.org |Â Â 845.679.9900
Princeton Rausch MoranÂ
Family Support Assistant princeton@affcny.org |Â 607-272-0034
Catherine "Kitty" Ravert
Family Support Specialist kitty@affcny.org 607.272.0034
Kylie Regan
Family Support Specialist kylie@affcny.org 845.679.9900
Janet Smyth
Family Support Specialist janet@affcny.org | Â 631.598.1983
Jade Sudock
Youth Programming jade@affcny.org | Â 845.679.9900
Antoinette Sumter-Cotman
NYC Family Advocacy Specialist antoinette@affcny.org | 646.688.4321
Warren Valez
Family Support Specialist warren@affcny.org 845-679-9900
Chemene Vizzi
Conference & Production Specialist Chemene@affcny.org | 646.688.4321
Cheryl Willer
Family Support Specialist cheryl@affcny.org 607.272.0034
If you would like to join the team, please see the Coalition Career page for more details on vacant positions. Â
Click here for information regarding Internships at the Coalition.
Advisory Council
The Coalition’s Advisory Council specifically assists and supports the development of various Coalition projects as well as providing ideas and feedback.
The committee is composed of child welfare professionals, foster parents, adoptive parents and adoptees.
Anni Keane
Advisory Council
Carla Brathwaite
Advisory Council
Suzanne d’Aversa
Advisory Council
April Dinwoodie
Advisory Council
Dr. Alicia Pointer
Advisory Council
Susan Grundberg
Advisory Council
Lisa Maynard
Advisory Council
Stephen McCall
Advisory Council
Minda Lee Briaddy
Advisory Council
Elvira Northington
Advisory Council
Loren Nowak
Advisory Council
Megan O’Leary
Advisory Council
Tomasine Oliphant
Advisory Council
John Sobraske
Advisory Council