Human Services Panel On-Demand

I joined Adams County Department of Human Services after completing my MSW at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  I joined the county as an Ongoing Caseworker III in July, 2007.  Prior to my position with ACHSD I was afforded great opportunities in my field internships; during my BSW at Colorado State University I was a Deputy Probation Officer for Larimer County.  I interned with an In-Home Sex Abuse Caseworker in Clark County, Nevada, completed an internship with the ICWA caseworker for the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and conducted supervised parenting time for high risk domestic violence offenders with Donna’s House Central in Clark County, Nevada.

During the 8 years I worked as an Ongoing Caseworker I found my preference was in working with parents, primarily on Expedited Permanency Planning (EPP) cases.  I found that I also enjoyed the challenge in cases that focused heavily on clinical/mental health issues for parents and I find this true in my current role of supervising/training Ongoing Caseworkers.  I briefly spent time with the county as a Family Team Meeting facilitator (which was very rewarding and provided me a very comprehensive perspective of the work we do within the agency) but my love of Ongoing Casework brought me to my current role as an Ongoing Supervisor, where I’ve been for the past 5 years.  Working in the field of child protection has been a rewarding career choice for me and one of the greatest blessings of this work is spending my time sharing, learning and collaborating with some of the best professionals in the state of Colorado.

Maria Avila is a caseworker in Foster Care and Kinship Certification and Support at Adams County Human Services Department (ACHSD). She has 20 years of experience working with families that provide care for children in out-of-home placements. Maria has a BA in psycology, a BS in international marketing and a MSW. Maria is also a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the State of Colorado. Maria is a married mother of two children. Maria and her husband were foster parents with Boulder County for two years, and they were foster parents for their daughter whom they adopted in 2006. Maria volunteered as a team treasurer for the Broomfield Soccer Club for 4 years and she currently is volunteering as the team manager for the Broomfield High School boys’ varsity program.

Angela Wilson supervises the Adams County Foster Care Program.  She leads a team of six certification caseworkers, a case aide, trainer, and foster care recruiter.  Over the last five years, Angela and her team grew the number of certified foster families in Adams County over 40%.  Angela takes pride in her team’s strong work ethic, dependability, responsibility, willingness to learn and integrity.   These values inform her vision for child welfare practice, as well as coaching foster families.  Angela is also a Trainer for the Colorado Child Welfare System, specifically facilitating The Nuts and Bolts of Foster Care Certification throughout Colorado. 

Outside of Adams County, Angela is a wife and mom to three daughters-8 year old twins Quinn and Elliott and 10 year old Anderson.  Angela and her family are active members of their church, Highlands Church North Denver, and volunteer together at Casa de Paz.  She enjoys baking, and can always be found in the kitchen during the holidays baking sweet treats with her girls.  While not a nature buff, Angela does join her family once a year for a Colorado staycation camping trip—actual bathrooms required. 

Kristin Vollmar has over 18 years of experience in child welfare. She has been with Adams County for the past 10 years.  Currently a supervisor for the CFS training team which assists new staff with learning the ins and outs of child welfare as well as the growth and development of experienced staff. Kristin supervised an intake team which included the institutional caseworker for over 6 years.  During her spare time Kristin and her wife enjoy watching their two children play soccer and traveling.

Michelle Champagne is the Foster Parent Recruitment Specialist. She came to Adams County in 2014 after working over a decade for the San Diego County Health and Human Service Agency, Child Protective Services.  She began her career with Adams County working in the intake section on the Sex Abuse Specialty Unit. In 2016 she began working as the Foster Parent Recruitment Specialist where she has been able to use her skills she acquired from earning her Bachelor Degree in Social Work,  with a minor in Public Communication.  Since taking the position of foster parent recruiter, she and the foster care team has seen a significant increase in the number of Adams County foster families.  Michelle has a great deal of energy and is excited about recruiting foster families. She takes pride in the growth of the program, as well as the creative methods used to recruit and retain families, and working with community partners

 Outside of Adams County, Michelle has a life partner, with whom she loves to go on travel adventures with in their RV, as well as to exotic places around the world. She loves snorkeling and spending time on warm beaches. Michelle loves being an aunt to her amazing 18-year-old niece Caroline and mother to two spoiled dogs, Lilly and Daisy. She enjoys a variety crafts and making photos books of the trips she takes.

Rishell Hessing has a dual role at Adams County. She is the child specific adoption recruiter and post adoption support liaison. Rishell has 25 years of experience working with families primarily with a focus on adoption. Rishell is passionate about adoption and believes it is the ultimate expression of unconditional love. She has several family members who are adopted. Rishell’s grandmother was her first exposure to adoption with an open adoption story and reconnection with biological family. Rishell has a BA in Sociology from Drake University in Des Moines, IA. She is a newlywed with a blended and modern family. Rishell and her husband have 5 children ages 19 to 25 years and 1 grandson. Rishell’s mother in law also shares her home along with 2 furry friends. Rishell’s hobbies include traveling, cooking, gardening, reading and walking dogs.

Ellen is the current Client Services Manager for ACHSD and has been in this role for the past 5 years.  She began her career at ACHSD as an ongoing caseworker in 2000 and has also worked as a Therapeutic Foster Care Worker, on the Internal Treatment Team and as an Ongoing Supervisor.  Ellen is the proud adoptive mom of 3 children (now 23, 25 and 26 years old) who she adopted through the child welfare system in a neighboring county.  Ellen’s children were 5, 7 & 8 years old when they came to live with her through a kinship connection and the adoption occurred about 18 months later.  She also has a beautiful 7 year old granddaughter.  Ellen began her child welfare career in Southern California after earning her masters degree in social work.  She worked at a residential treatment facility for 4 years and for a Foster Family Agency for 3 years prior to moving to Colorado.  Ellen is passionate about prevention work, placement stability, finding quality therapeutic services and self-care.  Her favorite ways to unwind are: playing volleyball, going for walks and hanging out with her children and granddaughter.