Program Director

Elena Polonetz was born in Ukraine, received her Ukraine law degree and started practicing family law. Ten years ago she came to the US and since then has been working for Aurora as an adoption consultant. Elena has been working in the adoption field since 1995.

She spent four years working as an adoption coordinator in Ukraine before immigrating to the United States. These experiences helped Elena better understand children's minds and hearts. For her, helping children is not work; it is a life style. She feels best when doing work that changes lives forever and brings happiness to so many families.

Having the opportunity to work in the adoption field is the most rewarding and noble mission ever.

Assistant Manager

Barbara Jamaleddin has recently joined Aurora as Assistant Manager. Barbara brings over 30 years of Executive Management to the team. She has been appointed to the Board of Directors for Trans-Pacific Telecom. Her knowledge of Human Resources is a welcomed addition for Aurora International Adoption. She has worked in the United States, Europe and Australia. She has had significant contributions to organizational behavior in Corporate America. Evaluation programs, feedback and mentoring are her strengths.

Corporate culture demands excellence in performance. Her knowledge in the area of Human Resources adds a compassionate and understanding dimension to our adoptive services program. She serves as a direct contact for adoptive families with a primary focus on proper placement.

Barbara's role with Aurora International Adoption will guarantee the adoptive families they will have a total understanding of all procedures and will keep the adoptive families informed of each step in the procedure.

Barbara has earned a Bachelors degree in Education at Wayne State University. She has also formed the Women's organization at Sprint and at WorldxChange during her tenor at each corporation.

Svetlana Brown (Lana)

Svetlana was born and raised in Russia. At the age of 18 she married and moved to the United States. She now enjoys a wonderful family. She has 3 children and a loving husband. For the past 4 years she has been a foster parent and had over 30 foster children. She says it breaks her heart to see children living in broken homes and deprived conditions. She tries to give her children, including her foster children, all the love and attention every child should have.

While living in Russia she worked at a hospital for orphan babies. There were always so many abandoned babies. Most were abandoned because the parents just didn't want their own child. There were so many babies that the hospital could not give the needed care. The ratio of babies to nurses was horrid. The babies never received the care they needed, they could only be held for a few minutes a day and feeding and changing was done infrequently.

From her work and the years she spent at that hospital, an overwhelming conviction to fix the crisis grew in her and is still thriving. She believes that no matter how much a hospital or an orphanage has, it can never be an adequate substitute for the love, attention, and support a real family gives. She always says "Every child deserves a family."

She is proud to be a part of the Aurora team and excited to help you find your forever family.