The Director of Parent Education of theAsianBridge is Pat Deck. Please direct all calls regarding education to her at 303-862-7160 or email her at Pat_Deck@comcast.net.

About Education Co-Director Pat Deck

Pat Deck is mom to four adopted Chinese daughters, Taylor (12), Michaela (10), Chloe (7) and Mia (5).  The three youngest girls were “Special Needs” children, all with some form of heart condition.  Both Chloe and Mia have had open heart surgery and are thriving. Pat holds a BME from the University of Northern Colorado and a MA from the  University of Colorado in Boulder Colorado in Education and Administration.  She taught Health Education and Vocal Music for 13 years, and was both a middle school and high school assistant principal and principal.  She retired from Academy School District in Colorado Springs in 2005 and now volunteers with her children’s Chinese school and periodically teaches parenting classes at Chinese Children Adoption International.

About Education Co-Director Jan Merola, MSW

Jan Merola is a social worker who has worked with individuals, couples, and families in many capacities. Her primary focus is with adoption and working with the family as a whole, addressing early childhood trauma such as disrupted attachment in the children adopted and relationship difficulties that result with change. Jan's role as an adoption social worker has exceeded family's expectations regardless of race, creed or color.

She is a surrogate 'auntie' to the children whose adoptions she has facilitated. Her clinical experience includes work with residential treatment facilities for high-risk youth, attachment therapy, foster care programs, mediation services, educating parents in preparation of adopting one or more children and working with over 20 different countries. Jan's years of experience with domestic and international adoptions as well as foster care and child protective services have provided insight into the u nseen webs of significance that tie us together, recognizing the perpetual need to feel valued and connected in a complex world.