Anne Ashton
Anchorage, Alaska
Anne Ashton, a social and permanency planning worker with the Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services, is our November Caseworker of the Month for helping three sets of sibling groups find permanent placements with two adoptive families.
Ashton was nominated for this honor by the two adoptive families–the Fowlers and Smiths.
"I was delighted to meet Menda and Leo Fowler in 2004 when they adopted their first child. This family is wonderful and real gold mind to find," Ashton said.
It was through the Fowlers that Ashton met Sonnet and Andy Smith, the other adoptive parents who happen to be Menda's sister and brother-in-law.
"It's always a great thing when sibling groups can be placed within the same family, and I'm very thankful other extended families in Anchorage have adopted children on my case load."
Fowler family story
Anne is a strong advocate for finding forever families. Thanks to her we have grown our family of three to a family of 10. We first met Anne in 2004 when we adopted our son Isaac as a baby. We already had two children and decided we'd like to have one more.
We had waited several months before being matched with Isaac, and were incredibly anxious to bring him home as soon as we got the news. The only problem was we found out just a few days before the weekend and thought we'd have to wait another week or two.
Then, at 4:45 p.m. on Friday, we got a call from Anne telling us she had worked everything out and we could pick up our baby Isaac! We were beyond thrilled and describe that moment as when we got, "hooked on Anne."
Just ten months after adopting Isaac, I received another phone call from Anne telling us Isaac's birth mom was in the hospital having another baby. Because of Anne's phone call I was able to go to the hospital and bring Samuel home.
After adopting Samuel, we thought our family was complete. That was until Anne came by to celebrate Isaac's adoption party in 2006. While at the party she told us about a sibling group of three children ages 2, 3, and 5 who needed an adoptive family. The next thing we knew, we were discussing making these children a part of our family. Two months later we brought them home.
With seven children, we definitely thought we were done. Then another phone call came from Anne telling us the three children we just adopted had a baby brother named Malachi. Anne thought Malachi should be with his siblings in a home where he could stay, and I am so pleased to say that his adoption should be finalized next month.
We often thank God for Anne and the children she has brought into our family.
Smith family story
We met Anne through my sister and brother-in-law Menda and Leo Fowler. We were at an adoption party for one of my nephews and my husband and I were able to talk with Anne about our own desire to adopt.
A few months later we got a phone call from Anne about a three-month old boy who needed a foster care and adoption placement. A few days later we met our son Silas and were able to bring him home within a few weeks. We were so amazed at the extra effort Anne put in to complete the necessary paperwork to make it all happen quickly.
Five days after our son's first birthday we had another surprise when Anne called to tell us she would like to place Silas’ newborn biological brother with us. During the following year there were ups and downs with the case as we waited anxiously to make everything official, but Anne was always very encouraging.
In November 2008, we were able to celebrate National Adoption Month by finalizing the adoption of our two sons. It was especially touching to be able to celebrate the day with Anne, who had become a friend and much more than just a social worker to us.
Find out how you can help promote the 2009 National Adoption Month and meet our previously featured caseworkers of the month.
Read our press release (46.4 KB PDF)