We want to bring you, our readers, into the day-to-day of our agency by sharing more about the people you get to work with through each phase of the process! This month we’re featuring Doreen Ball, a member of our Social Work Support Team who has been with American Adoptions for three years. Read on to learn more about her job at American Adoptions!
What is your name and position?
Doreen Ball, Social Work Support
How long have you been working for American Adoptions?
3 years
What are your tasks at American Adoptions?
I assist the social workers with preparing files, entering information in the database, finding resources for the birth mothers such as counselors and prenatal care, and numerous other tasks. I also assist with getting the babies on Medicaid to cover their hospital time before the adoptive family’s insurance takes effect, and I take care of medical bills for both the birth mothers and the babies, making sure that they are paid or correct insurance is reported on them. I also help with our Resource center and phone support… just to name a few of my daily tasks.
What does a typical work day look like?
For me, there are no “typical” days. Every day is a new challenge and is filled with calls to hospitals, tracking down paperwork, entering information in our database, opening Medicaid cases, paying bills, responding to emails from vendors and clients and too many numerous tasks to list!
How has adoption impacted your life personally?
My best friend in grade school was adopted, as well as her siblings, and one of our close family friends when I was a teenager adopted a little girl. As I have grown older, I have seen the beauty of it in my extended family who have adopted and also close friends who placed a baby for adoption, and seeing their selfless gift made a big impact on me.
What is your favorite part of working for American Adoptions?
I love when a family that has been waiting a long time finally gets a placement and knowing that another family has been created.
What is your favorite time of year at American Adoptions?
This year I would say it was the Adoptive Family Picnic and getting to see so many families that had been created through adoption.
Do you have any favorite adoption memories?
I drove one of our birth mothers to her doctor’s appointments as she not had any prenatal care and was having a rough time. We thought she had about a month to go and she delivered that very weekend. I was able to go to court with her and the family and then go back for the hospital discharge of the baby to the family. It was an incredible experience to get to know her and appreciate the strength and bravery of our birth parents.
How many adoptions have you been a part of?
I have been a part of almost every adoption since I have worked here through my different positions as there are usually administrative tasks for each one that need to be done, so probably close to 600, take or leave a few.
What has been your biggest accomplishment in your position?
Every time I have been able to close out a difficult billing case and save a family some money feels like a huge accomplishment!
Is there anything else you want to share?
I love working at American Adoptions and getting to work with a great staff, awesome vendors, wonderful families and brave birth parents to create forever families!
