Staff
Building Forever Families – Adoption & Family Services Staff has over 60 years of combined adoption experience. All staff members have adoption connections. We team up to make the adoption process as smooth as possible for all parties.
Barb Pearson-Cramer
Executive Director
Barb is the agency’s Executive Director and founder. She is the mom of 4 children. She and her family live on an acreage near Faulkton, SD. When not working, she is busy attending her children’s activities: basketball, volleyball, wrestling, football, track, golf and 4-H. Barb also enjoys the livestock and country life. In her spare time, Barb likes working in her gardens, photography, and sewing/crafts. Barb states a fun fact about her is that she would rather clean the barn than clean the house.
Carolyn Henderson
Social Work Supervisor
Carolyn is one of the agency’s Social Work Supervisors. She has been working in the field of mental health since 1999. . .she loves listening to people and assisting them in figuring out what their strengths are. She states that problem solving can be challenging but rewarding at times. She has been with Building Forever Families – Adoption & Family Services since the beginning, first as a board member, and now in her role as Social Work Supervisor. Carolyn states, “It’s so enjoyable working with families, and both sides of the adoption equation!” She also states that she learns from every case. Carolyn is most proud of her family and states that some of her best friends are her children. She and husband, James, feel that they now have 8 kids with their children’s spouses. They enjoy their 13 grandchildren as well as 1 great-grandchild. When Carolyn was a child, she thought she was going to be a writer. She loved to write poems.
Kim Carlbom
Administrative Assistant
Kim is one of the agency’s Administrative Assistants. She handles all things file related. She is an adoptive parent of two children. She and her husband live on a ranch in the middle of the South Dakota Badlands. Her children are her pride and joy and she spends her spare time following them all over the state for wrestling tournaments, football games, cheerleading or gymnastics. Growing up in Denver, Kim was destined to move to a small town and go to college. It was there that she knew she wanted to live in the country. Kim has worked in the counseling field for a number of years. Kim states that joining Building Forever Families – Adoption & Family Services in 2019 as the administrative assistant has been so wonderful and empowering. Seeing the lives of families change is very rewarding. At one point in Kim’s life she was training to go to the Olympics in the shot put, but due to a career ending injury, her life went in another direction
Ellen Stevens
Social Work Supervisor
Ellen is one of the agency’s Social Work Supervisors. She is a single parent to six adopted children ages 13 to 29. She has one adorable 3 year old granddaughter. Also joining her family are one big orange dog, five cats, and a tortoise. Her education includes a BA in Public Administration, and a Master’s in Social Work. Ellen has vast experience in human services and therapy, but one of Ellen’s favorite jobs is being a mom and grandma. Ellen states her best qualities have developed over 20 years as an adoptive, foster and respite parent. She states she is a problem solver and a Big Picture Thinker (“Will this be important 50 years from now?”). Ellen’s favorite time of day is between 4 and 6 am, when many of life’s problems can be solved, because it’s quiet. Her favorite place in South Dakota is Reptile Gardens. Ellen joined Building Forever Families – Adoption & Family Services in 2017.
Billie Jo Hinders
Administrative Assistant
Billie Jo is one of the agency’s Administrative Assistants. She works on special projects and with our waiting child families working on matches. Billie Jo’s background is in education. Billie Jo is a mom to three children. She and her husband live in rural Minnesota. The family enjoys the outdoors and competing at Ranch Team Sorting events with their horses. She has been riding horse solo since she was 3 years old. Billie Jo joined Building Forever Families – Adoption & Family Services in 2016.
Stacy Frost
Multimedia Coordinator Trainer
Stacy is the agency’s Multimedia Coordinator and Trainer. She works on all things social media and website, coordinates the agency’s in-service training and works with adoptive family’s on their profiles. Stacy’s background is in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education with a certification in West Ed Training. Stacy is a mom of three. She and her husband live near Sioux Falls, SD. She enjoys stamping, crafts, and photography in her free time. Her favorite sports to watch are wrestling and soccer. She also loves Broadway and plays. Stacy joined Building Forever Families – Adoption & Family Services in 2020.
