Our Team

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Phyllis Laughlin, MA, LCPC, Clinical Director of Adoptive Parent Services

Phyllis has been with The Cradle since 2000, first as an Adoptive Parent Counselor and now as Clinical Director of Adoptive Parent Services. She supervises a staff of counselors, facilitates training sessions, and works with adoptive parents as they go through the home study process and accept placement. She is involved with the adoption of international, domestic, and special-needs infants and children.

Phyllis earned her Master's degree in community counseling and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Illinois. She has over 15 years of work experience in a corporate setting, has worked as a grief counselor and trainer, and has a small private practice specializing in work with adults.

Marc Arneson, Adoption Service Coordinator

Marc began working at The Cradle in June, 2002. In that time he has worked with prospective adoptive parents in a variety of different roles. One of his primary roles has been to introduce families to adoption and The Cradle. He has also worked as an Adoption Counselor and facilitates adoptive parent educational workshops.

Marc received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loras College in 1994. Before coming to The Cradle, Marc spent eight years working in child welfare specifically with children who were wards of the state transitioning from residential treatment to more permanent foster and adoptive homes.

Dori Fujii, MSW, LCSW, Adoption Counselor

Dori Fujii has worked in the field of child welfare and adoption since she received her Master's in Social Work from the University of Illinois in 1976. Since 1983, she has been in private practice specializing in work with children, adults and families. She has also worked as a consultant to DCFS in their pre- and post-adoptive services programs, providing assessment and treatment, and has advanced training from the Theraplay Institute in Chicago.

Iheoma C. Okeke-Banks, MA Adoption Counselor

heoma rejoined the Cradle staff in March 2007 to work with adoptive families in both the domestic and international adoption programs. She previously worked with the Cradle in the same capacity from 2004 through 2006. Prior to working at the Cradle, Iheoma was employed as an adoption counselor working with families interested in adopting children with special needs. Iheoma received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago and her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University. She enjoys working with families of all types to through the adoption process and in preparation for becoming parents.

Kathleen McShane, MA, Adoption Counselor 

Kathleen joined The Cradle in 2007. She has worked in child welfare for almost ten years. She received bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Canisius College and her master's degree in Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Kathleen previously worked for agencies in New York specializing in special needs adoption, foster care, and therapeutic foster care. She has also worked with adults and children with developmental disabilities such as Autism and Cerebral Palsy.

Sue PuffPaff, Adoption Counselor

Sue has worked in the social work field for 13 years, 7 of that in adoption. She received her Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Illinois. She has a myriad of adoption experiences which includes adoption in the public child welfare system, post adoption and providing counseling to adoptive families. Sue is committed to the field of social work and is passionate about creating families through adoption.

Dana Mulhall Rusiniak, LCSW, Adoption Counselor

Dana began at The Cradle in 2000 in the role of Birthparent Counselor. After counseling birthparents for eight years, she began working with prospective adoptive families in the role of Adoption Counselor. Dana enjoys using her knowledge and experience from working with birthparents to help guide and prepare adoptive families during the home study process. She is also a facilitator of adoptive parent educational workshops. Dana received her Master of Social Work degree in 2000 from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Illinois.

Judy Stigger, LCSW, Adoption Therapist & Director of Professional Relations

As Adoption Therapist, Judy works with children, adults, and families with post adoption issues. As Director of Professional Relations for Adoption Learning Partners, Judy works with professionals in the adoption field regarding live and online training and development. and many articles related to adoption.  Judy conceptualized www.AdoptionLearningPartners.org, creating the content for Conspicuous Families. She presents at local and national conferences, and serves on the advisory board of Adoptive Families Magazine. Previously, Judy coordinated international and domestic adoption programs. She authored Coping with Infertility.  I n 2000, Congress recognized Judy with an Angel in Adoption award, in recognition of her years of service and expertise. Judy and her spouse are the adoptive parents of two grown, special needs children and are also birth grandparents of one, and grandparents of two, lovely granddaughters. Contact Judy at 847-733-3249 or jstigger@cradle.org.

Heide Winckler, LCSW, Cradle Counselor, Match Specialist:
In addition to work with The Cradle, Heide has extensive volunteer experience and has done research for the Children and Family Research Center in Urbana. Heide received her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Illinois.