Our Passion For Adoption Runs Deep.

Hi, I’m Steffany Aye. I have been a part of the adoption field since 1993 and found it to be very rewarding. I was introduced to the field of adoption in college while obtaining my first master’s degree in Family Life Education and Consultation. I had always had an interest in unplanned pregnancy and infertility, but it was not until this point that I began to see how it all fit together.

While obtaining my second master’s degree in Social Work, I had the opportunity to also study Hospital and School Social Work. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about these other fields; however, I knew that my heart’s desire was to be involved in adoption. Within a few short months, doors began to open and starting an adoption agency became a reality.

Since 1998, Adoption & Beyond has grown from a one-person home-based agency to an agency with several dedicated adoption professionals covering two states. I am so thankful and blessed to have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of wonderful birth parents, adoptive families and their children. In addition, I am the proud mother of five children, one having joined our family through adoption.

Warmest Wishes,

Steffany A. Aye

I am so excited to be the Office Coordinator! I graduated from Benedictine College in 2014 with my Bachelor’s in Psychology and Criminology and from Missouri State University in 2018 with my Master’s in Social Work. I have worked with children and families since 2015. Since I was young, I have always had an interest in adoption and am excited to be working in this field! My husband and I hope to adopt in the future.

In my free time, I love to do all things outdoors including hiking, biking, and camping. I also enjoying reading historical fiction, working on various craft activities, and spending time with friends and family. I am excited to be working here at Adoption & Beyond and look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,

Olivia Grelle

I joined the Adoption & Beyond team in February 2018. I attended the University of Missouri- Kansas City, where I received my Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2012. After taking a few years off from school I decided to continue my education, and obtained my Master’s in Social Work from the University of Kansas in 2017. During graduate school I completed two internships, each lasting one school year. My first internship was at KVC, where I worked on the re-integration team serving both the children and their biological parents. I completed my second internship at the Salvation Army Children’s Shelter, where I provided case management and therapeutic services to the clients living at the shelter.

I have always been passionate about adoption, and I believe this stems from the way in which I was raised. My family provided foster care for approximately 12 years and adopted my eldest brother during this time. I can’t imagine my life without my brother, or without all of the children that we had the joy of loving over those 12 years. My husband and I are foster parents ourselves! We currently have two sweet girls, one who joined our family through foster care adoption. Read Brittany’s full adoption story here.

I feel honored to work at Adoption & Beyond, and especially honored to play a small part in your adoption story!

Sincerely,

Brittany Sheets, LMSW

Hi, my name is Kelly Ware and I live in Olathe, Kansas. I graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in 1992. I have worked for the Department for Children and Families, Johnson County Court Services, and am currently a Family Advocate at Sunflower House which is a Child Advocacy Center that serves Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas. When children come for forensic interviews due to allegations of physical or sexual abuse, I provide resources and support to the non-offending caregiver(s). I enjoy working with children and families and am very excited to begin working as an adoption case worker at Adoption & Beyond! The field of adoption has always held a special interest for me as I was adopted as a baby. I have been raised by wonderful parents and have a younger sister who was also adopted. I look forward to working with expecting parents and hopeful adoptive parents.

My husband and I are parents to a daughter and twin sons. I enjoy traveling, watching KU basketball, reading, and bargain shopping. I have been an active member in my Beta Sigma Phi sorority since 1993 where service is a top priority and enjoy spending time with my sorority sisters.

I am thankful for getting the opportunity to work in the field of adoption and am ready to begin this new step in life with you.

Sincerely,

Kelly Ware

Hello! I am Michelle Crain.

I am so excited to be working with Adoption & Beyond again as a Home Study Case Worker. I worked with the agency for several years before taking some time to focus on my children as they traveled through the high school years. I am glad to be back.

I have been a social worker for over 30 years, working in various roles. I have worked in medical social work, the mental health field, as well as private practice with military families. I currently work full-time in an Early Childhood Special Education program in a local school district. Being a social worker has truly been the most fulfilling career for me.

Adoption is very close to my heart as both of my children were adopted. They are the greatest gifts and my pride and joy. I look forward to helping other families fulfill their dreams of becoming parents though adoption.

Sincerely,

Michelle Crain, LCSW

Hi, my name is Shannon Wilson and I live in Springfield, Missouri. I graduated from Evangel University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 2000 and from Missouri State University with a master’s degree in Social Work in 2003. I received my clinical social work license in 2007.

I have been working with an agency that facilitates Adoptions and Foster Care since the spring of 2003. I received my clinical social work license in 2007. I enjoy my job, and I enjoy developing relationships with my foster families and investing in the lives of the children that I work with.

I have been working with Adoption & Beyond as one of their Home Study Caseworkers since the fall of 2004 and have thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many new people. It is so rewarding to be a part of children and adoptive parents coming together and becoming a family. There are so many children that need families, and I love sharing in the process of these families being created. I enjoy working with families from the beginning of the home study process all the way through getting to meet their children during the post-adoptive visits. I believe that God has opened this door for me, and I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of bringing children who need a family to a family that is waiting for them.

I am married and have been blessed to be the mother to two little girls, Reagan and Riley. Both of my jobs allow me the flexibility to stay home with them most of the time. I love being a mom, and I love helping people become parents through adoption.

Sincerely,

Shannon Wilson

I was honored to become a part of the Adoption & Beyond team in 2015! I received my bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri in 2014. I completed my internship with Sunflower House in Shawnee, Kansas as a Family Advocate. After graduating, I worked with families in the Head Start Program in the Kansas City, Kansas public school district. I greatly enjoy working with families and look forward to working with Adoption & Beyond’s families.

I have a personal connection to adoption as I was adopted by my father around the age of 13 years old. Some might say that it was an adoption by my stepfather, but he is my dad. I am married and have a young child. I know the joy that comes along with becoming a parent and want to help others experience that joy as well.

In my free time, I like to read, run, spend time with my family, and be outdoors. I am excited to work for Adoption & Beyond and look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,

Shawna Super