About Us
Since its inception in 1990, American Adoption Professionals Abroad, Inc. has remained on the vanguard of pre and post adoption services for Americans living abroad.
Debbie, Randy and Jane, Spring 2011. Photo: Angela Kaleskas.
We strive to exert knowledge and support to our client's adoption goals in US Domestic or International Adoption. We are committed to excellence, leadership and cultural appreciation, enhanced by a diverse international clientele of Americans living abroad.
Randy Barlow MA, MSW, Ed.S
Adoption Social Worker
Heidelberg, Germany
Randy Barlow is an international adoption social worker. He and his wife, Donna, a kindergarten teacher with Department of Defense Schools, and their son, Jesse, have lived overseas since 1984. Randy's love for children and families led him to a unique opportunity to work with families living overseas who seek social work assistance in the adoption process. He brings many years of dedication and quality service in the field of adoption social work to each unique case. Randy is a graduate of University of Illinois School of Social Work (MSW) including a social work license from the state of Illinois. He also holds a post-graduate degree in Educational Leadership (Ed.S) in addition to a Masters Degree (MA) in Human Development Counseling. Randy is also a volunteer with the International Red Cross Aviation Disaster Team, National Association of Social Workers International Chapter (NASW), American Professional Counselors Association Europe as well as a critical incident counselor for Professional Performance Consultants. Randy has assisted hundreds of Americans living abroad with international adoption social work services over the past several years.
Jane Santos MSW, LCSW
Adoption Social Worker
Wiesbaden, Germany
Jane Santos received her masters in Social Work (MSW) from Arizona State University. She is licensed as a clinical social worker in North Carolina (LCSW). Jane is very experienced in international and domestic adoptions, child custody evaluations and post placement services. She has several advanced and specialized clinical certifications and also offers mental health services to Americans residing overseas. Jane worked for several years as a social worker with the US military before entering independent practice in 1998, where she provides adoption social work services, and adult and family counseling. Jane is a past member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Social Workers, International Chapter. She is also certified as a Diplom-Sozialpadagogin in Germany, where she has resided with her family since 1989.
Debbie Driessen-Grika MSW, LSW
Adoption Social Worker
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Debbie Driessen-Grika, MSW, LSW, has been a social worker for over 16 years and has held a variety of positions in the social services field. She earned her Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is a licensed master level social worker (LSW) in the state of New Jersey. Having held positions in hospitals with chronically and terminally ill children, abused and neglected children and children with various physical and mental handicaps, and having worked with sexually abused children, her past experiences helped to prepare her for her work as an international adoption social worker. As an adoptive parent herself, Debbie has a personal and professional understanding of the concerns of other adoptive parents in the adoption process. She evaluates, supports and educates families as they negotiate the adoption process and works hard to link prospective parents with others who have gone through or are going through the adoption process, in order to insure the availability of social and emotional support, if desired. Debbie has resided in the Netherlands since 1998 and she has been working with AAPA in assisting adoptive families pre and post adoption, since 2001. She and her Dutch husband are parents to two wonderful children -- biological and adopted.