Our Team

Annette Williams, PhD

Post Adoption Program Manager

Our Post Adoption Program Manager Annette Williams, PhD, oversees and conducts programs to enrich the lives of families who have adopted or who have a child permanently placed in their home. She earned a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Capella University in Minneapolis, and is in the process of earning her second Master’s degree, an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health from Lamar University.


Why I started with Arms Wide:

Before joining the Arms Wide staff, I wrote home studies as a contract employee. Since the team here knows me, they contacted me when my current position became available. I like how the position fits with my current studies in Clinical Mental Health, allowing me to apply text information to practice.


My favorite part about my job:

Every facet of the job! Watching families arrive hopeless and leave hopeful; encouraging them when the honeymoon phase ends and struggles arise, and seeing them work with the agency to resolve family matters and issues.  I truly enjoy meeting new people; walking them towards their happy ending is just extremely fulfilling.


My least favorite part:

There are no least favorite parts about this job. This job I believe is a result of Divine Intervention, in that I am able to continue my academic studies while gaining relative hands on experience to prepare me for counsellorship. Further, the work is gratifying and the schedule affords flexibility such that I can balance my two loves; helping people in the social work setting and helping people through mission efforts.


More about me:

I’m passionate about serving others in general, but particularly passionate about serving through Christian ministry. Recently, I participated in a mission trip to Africa.  Nothing could have prepared me for what I embarked upon in terms of the degree of poverty and sickness. A novice would have succumbed to the pressures, but my experiences of working with the poor; families and children compelled me to commit to serving this group from hence forward.  That is, I hope to use my clinical license and skills to counsel the underprivileged improving their quality of life.


Ask me about:

My travels and travel experiences.


More Team Members

Donna Waller, LMSW

 Permanency Program Administrator

Jackie Xu

Permanency and Placement Coordinator