About Us

Our Board of Directors and Staff
We, at API, are committed to making your adoption a success.
We look forward to helping you create a forever family!

Our Board of Directors is comprised of adoptive families and professionals as well as individuals interested in maintaining healthy families. Between our Directors, we have over 70 years of adoption and foster care experience.

Amanda Way ~ Founder & President. Amanda founded Adoption Priorities after seeing a need for quality services that focus on the adoptive family before, during and after an adoption.

Dee Carter ~ Vice-President. Dee has been a foster parent for about ten years and feels that the permanency adoption provides is so important to children in the foster care system.

Mitchell Way ~ Director. Mitchell is an adoptive father to two children from Russia. He works in the travel industry focusing on international business travel for major corporations.

Leslie Switzer, LCSW ~ Director. Leslie has been a therapist for over fifteen years with many of her clients being involved in the adoption triad. She also has ample experience assisting foster families and children.

William Grace ~ Director. William is a retired Chaplain and adoptive father to Elena. He and his wife, Laurie adopted Elena in 2005 from Russia.

Laurie Grace ~ Director. Laurie is an educator and adoptive mother to Elena. In her role as a teacher, she has dealt with many adopted and foster children.

Our staff members and contractors are committed to providing ethical and compassionate services to our families throughout the entire adoption journey.

Amanda Way, MLS, LBSW, LCPAA, President and Executive Director ~ Amanda has worked in the adoption field for over eleven years. Along with her husband, she has adopted two children from Russia. She is a Licensed Social Worker and believes that adoptive parents play a vital role in improving the lives of children who might otherwise never know the joys of family life. She has dedicated her work to assisting families through the adoption process and hopes in doing so that they may have cherished memories of the beginning of a remarkable journey. Amanda may be reached at amanda@adoptionpriorities.com.

Brenda Carter, Office Manager and Dossier Manager ~ Brenda is an experienced Dossier Manager who has completed dossiers for many different countries. She has a meticulous attention to detail and is very efficient in completing complex paperwork requirements. Brenda is also in charge of keeping our office running smoothly! When relaxing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren who were adopted! Brenda can be reached at brenda@adoptionpriorities.com.

Waltrye Daniels, B.S., Adoption Caseworker ~ Waltrye is our Adoption Caseworker and works with our families through the adoption process. She has a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She has three years of experience working in the foster care system in North Carolina and two years working with families through Head Start. Waltrye can be reached at waltrye@adoptionpriorities.com.

Michelle Schultze, BMEd., Homestudy Consultant~ Michelle is one of our Homestudy Consultant who provides homestudy services to families adopting through the foster care system. Michelle and her husband have been blessed through the adoption of four children. She has experienced every type of adoption - private, international and foster care which makes her an excellent resource for our families.

Jennifer Garcia, LBSW, Homestudy Consultant~ Jennifer is a Licensed Social Worker who has more than twenty years of social work experience. She is a Certified Nurturing Program trainer and provides homestudies for our adoptive families. She is dedicated to parent education and feels that education is important for a successful adoptive journey. She has one daughter.