About Us

Our mission is to promote and assist in the formation of stable families. The well-being of children is our priority. We believe every child deserves a permanent home in a safe, healthy, nurturing environment.

Adoptions Finalized

Mothers in Crisis Served

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Of Placements are Special Needs

Days a Year

ACF Adoptions is a licensed, private adoption agency that provides professional adoption services to birth mothers, adoptive parents and children since 1992. We believe in putting people before the process – ensuring every plan is customized to the individual family’s situation and needs. Our adoption attorneys and counselors know just how stressful the adoption process can be, so we provide a listening ear, personal attention and expert legal counsel to make things as easy for you as possible.

The ACF staff is comprised of adoption attorneys, licensed mental health professionals, adoption specialists, and support staff who are specially trained in the field of adoption. A recognized charity under the federal tax code, ACF accepts tax deductible donations. Your donation helps us build and support families.

Robert C. Lamarche, JD, LCSW

Executive Director

Rob has been in the adoption field since 1996. He has worked in both the public and private sectors in child welfare and has experience in both intercountry and domestic adoption. Rob earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Wheaton College, MA (1994). He has a Master’s Degree in Social work from Salem State College (1999) and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2012 after graduating from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law School in 2011.

Rob is the Executive Director/Attorney for ACF Adoptions, a private non–profit adoption agency that has been providing services since 1992. Rob is a former foster parent and the proud adoptive parent of two sons and a daughter. He resides in South Florida with his husband, children, 2 dogs and 9 chickens. Rob is an active volunteer in his community and an advocate for ethical adoption reform. He is on the board of the Florida Adoption Council, the National Council for Adoption and a Fellow in the American Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Attorneys where he serves on the Agency and Ethics Committees.

Tamara S. Mack, LMSW

Georgia Director

Tamara graduated with a Bachelor in Sociology/Anthropology from Valdosta State University. She then received her Master’s in Public Administration and her Master’s in Social Work from Valdosta State University.

Tamara has over 20 years of experience working with children and families in schools, clinical and community based settings and over 10 years in the substance abuse and mental health field. She served as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit and has served on several children and youth boards.

Hillary L Berger, LCSW

Director of Social Services

As an individual personally impacted by adoption, Hillary has been actively involved in advocating for ethical domestic adoptions since 2011. Hillary earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA in 2003, and she earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Florida State University in 2019. She joined our team when ACF Adoptions and Adoption Authority merged in 2022. Her roles have included serving on the Board of Directors (2012-2014), volunteering (2014), working as the Operations Coordinator (2015-2019) and Executive Director (2019-2022) of Adoption Authority.

Hillary works in our Jacksonville office and is primarily responsible for strategic planning, program development, and program funding.

Jennifer Kelly, MS

ACF+ Program Coordinator

Jennifer has been working in medically complex adoption for more than 10 years. She is an adoptive mother to 4, including her late daughter, Joy. Jennifer may be the only molecular biologist working in domestic adoption, but she leverages her scientific and medical understanding along with her personal experiences to serve families of medically complex children as they explore and navigate adoption. Jennifer is considered the expert in medically complex domestic adoption and is often invited to speak about the myriad of topics unique to this often-underserved community.

Jennifer is responsible for coordinating the various aspects of our medically complex/special needs adoptions. She also represents the agency at conferences for medical and adoption professionals.

Jennifer Urbay, LCSW, MAA

Adoption Program Manager

Jen has been clinically trained with a trauma informed resiliency framework allowing her to work with in a variety of populations, always with the focus of meeting the client’s needs. Jen has worked in community non-profit agencies and in the healthcare system providing social services to families. Having worked with populations such as children in foster care, individuals with mental health diagnosis, clients who have a disability, victims of trauma, dually diagnosed teens and adults, has contributed to her strong passion of serving families. Prior to joining our agency Jen founded a local support group for members of the adoption community. She is very invested in all sides of the adoption process.

Jen graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology from Florida International University, and then received her Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Barry University, Miami, Fl. She also holds a Masters of Arts in Administration from Barry University and has her clinical/LCSW license in Florida.

Jen is primarily responsible for educating and screening new applicants, supervising birth parent counselors, home studies, post placement and matches between birth and adoptive families. She is very committed to helping our families through their journey to adoption and realize their dream of building a forever family.

Meg Pringle

Adoption Caseworker

Meg graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida.

She has been working closely with birth mothers for over 15 years.

Meg does initial screenings, provides support to birth parents and adoptive parents throughout the process and facilitates meetings.

Her dedication, kindness and experience allows ACF to respond efficiently and professionally to all of our client’s needs.

Yazmin Palmero

Paralegal

Yazmin graduated with an Associate in Arts degree in Business Administration.

She is our Paralegal and has been working in the field of adoption for over 25 years. She brings extensive knowledge of a variety of legal and administration skills to the agency.

Her primary function is to prioritize legal workload in various procedural stages of adoption from initiation of a case, to termination of parental rights and finalization. Yazmin is the liaison with the Court and Vital Statistics. She works independently and she supports all legal aspects of our adoptions. Yazmin is also highly experienced in working with birth mothers as needed.

Yazmin’s commitment, professionalism and expertise are invaluable assets to this agency.

Yakima Palmero

Assistant Administrative Director

Yakima graduated with an Associate in Arts degree from MDC. She has been working with ACF for over 25 years.

She is primarily responsible for agency’s financial management, bookkeeping, accounts payable, audits, payroll/HR, client financial monitoring and reporting as well as generating final client detailed statements of receipts and disbursements for filing with court.

Another major function of her position is working on agency’s annual state re-licensing requirements, and compiling agency reports for annual tax return.

In addition, she is responsible for overall agency administration including insurance renewals, advertising, marketing and websites’ content updates.

Her dedication, skills and competence are great assets to the agency.

Nika Knowles

Administrative Assistant

Nika assists with grant applications and fundraising efforts and is responsible for the administrative procedures supporting these programs.

She provides support on all administrative and adoption procedures and the processing of Medicaid and medical records.

Nika’s organizational skills and commitment to the programs are valuable assets to the agency’s operation.

Lynnette M. Montañez, LCSW

Adoption Social Worker

Lynnette graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from Florida International University in Miami, Florida and went on to obtain her Masters in Social Work from Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. Lynnette is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Florida. She has received training in clinical models and interventions. She has experience working within both the public and private sector of adoption. In addition, Lynnette has worked with the following populations: children in foster care, families in shelters, dually diagnosed adults, victims of sexual abuse, and homelessness.

Lynnette primarily works with birth mothers: providing support and counseling, case management, maintains case records and assists with outreach efforts. Lynnette completes home studies, conducts post placement visits and oversees the ICPC (Interstate Compact for the Placement for Children)

Connie Going

ACF Navigator Program Coordinator

A passionate expert and advocate in the world of Adoption and Child Welfare, not only has Connie Going spent over 40 years in the trenches of social work but she has also adopted older children and parented unconditionally the challenges of children exposed to trauma.

After witnessing firsthand the ins and outs of child welfare Connie set out on a mission to create a National Campaign advocating for long term permanency and adoption. She believes with the right tools, education, and support, Adoptive and Foster Families as well as professionals can ensure every child has a committed,strong and long lasting home. With true transparency, honest conversations and intense community advocacy outcomes can and must be improved. Her passion and innovation has carried her far, as Connie has appeared on The View, Fox and Friends, CBS On the Road with Steve Hartman, ABC Evening News, NBC World News, People Magazine, Women’s World and Oprah’s Magazine “O”. She is the recipient of the congressional Angels in Adoption Award, Tampa Bay Lightning Heros Award, among her many accolades.

After leaving the Florida State System of care as an Adoption Specialist and Adoption Director, and before coming on board at ACF, Connie spent 6 years effectively impacting the quality care and support that birth parents receive when deciding to make an adoption plan as the executive Director of Going Adoption and Surrogacy. It was her hope that this effort would divert children, much like her sons, from spending their lives in Foster Care, and allow them to experience healthy open adoptions.

Connie is committed to continuing to bring positive change to the world of children and families and is deeply involved in consulting,speaking and supporting youth and families. Currently her consultation on her son’s Documentary: The Davion Effect and its world premier release is allowing her to help educate others how to help change in the systems and bring hope to every child that is waiting.

What Connie loves most in her life though, is being a crazy and committed Mom to five young adults who always challenge her to grow. Everyday truly is a miracle!

Greta M. Abraham, MSW

Infant Adoption Program Coordinator

Greta graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Deviant Behavior and Social Control from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, NY in 2010. She later earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Florida State University in 2024. Greta has been working with ACF Adoptions since 2022, where she began her career in social work as an MSW intern working in our Jacksonville office.

As the Infant Adoption Program Coordinator, Greta is primarily responsible for supervising agency caseworkers providing adoption-related services to expectant parents. Greta also works directly with expectant parents providing support and counseling, case management, on call support, and facilitates pre and post placement visits between birth families and adoptive families.