Meet our Team! |
Bal Jagat- Children's World Inc. is licensed throughout Southern California and we have social workers in each area to to work closely with families. Our Exempt Provider Social Workers are supervised by Bal Jagat Directors and are all MSW and/or LCSWs. They genuinely care about the families and build a relationship that lasts from the homestudy to child placement to progress reporting. Our social workers become like family, and are eager to help you adopt your child.
Directors
Executive Director, Hemlata Momaya, MSW
Hemlata has her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a minor in Psychology from the University of Bombay. She also is an Alumni from the world renowned School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), where she earned her Master of Social Work Degree. Hemlata volunteered & worked in orphanages in India. Hemlata is the Owner/Founder/ Executive Director of Bal Jagat for 34 years. She has visited orphanages and opened country programs worldwide, in addition to raising her family. In 2008, she received PBS Local Hero of the Year for Asian Pacific Heritage Month. In 2016, she earned Congressional Recognition as an "Angel in Adoption," and was presented the award in Washington DC. Hemlata speaks six Indian languages, enjoys Bollywood films, and very close to her family.
Director of Social Services, Mausami Momaya, MSW, LCSW
Mausami Momaya has a Bachelor and Master of Social Work Degree from California State University, Long Beach. She also has her LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). Mausami is the Director of Social Services. She has worked in Domestic Adoption at Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Mausami has visited orphanages worldwide and completed the documentation for all foreign country licenses. She is the Agency Hague Coordinator, Social Media Director, and a Notary Public. In 2015, Mausami was awarded "Woman of Distinction," by the California State Assembly, and acknowledged by the US House of Representatives and Senate. CSULB, her alumni, honored Mausami with the 2016 Community Service Alumni Award. Mausami has worked in both domestic and international adoption for 22 years. Mausami's hobbies include dancing, international travel and animal causes.
Though Hemlata and Mausami are Directors, they are still practicing Social Workers.
Though Hemlata and Mausami are Directors, they are still practicing Social Workers.
Social Workers
Julie Bank, MSW, West Los Angeles County & Southbay & Downtown Areas
Julie Bank has worked as an Adoption Social Worker exclusively with Bal Jagat - Children’s World Inc. since 2003. She has a Masters of Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. She has worked both professionally and as a volunteer in Social Welfare organizations such as the Chicago Urban League, Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), and the Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois. Julie has completed hundreds of home studies and countless progress reports for children adopted from all corners of the world. Julie is the Vice President of Social Justice at University Synagogue in West Los Angeles and on a national level, she is currently serving as the Chair of the Economic Justice Task Force on the Commission on Social Action for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and is a trustee-at-large on the Union for Reform Judaism North American Board. Julie Bank is married to Steven Bank, Professor of Law at the University of California, and proud mom of four kids, ages 20, 17, 11, and 8!
Patti Huber, MSW, LCSW, Long Beach, Orange County, & Surrounding areas |
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Patti Huber, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Seal Beach, is an adoptive mom in a trans-racial adoption. Her personal experience in adoption led her to shift focus of her clinical practice to work with all members of the adoption constellation and to provide consultation, support groups, workshops, and trainings for professionals and families. She is passionate about the fabric of the family system and the narrative told within family systems as well as coaching parents to support their children through their journey of family, whether through donor conception, foster care, or adoption, and the complex issues which unfold for parents who have created their families in any of these unique ways. In addition to teaching and parent coaching, Patti works offers individual and family therapy.
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Luisa Barajas, MSW, LCSW, North Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, & Kern Counties
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Ana K, MSW, Los Angeles County- East, and Surrounding areas
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Ana K. has her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Child Development and a Master's in Social Work Degree from California State University, Northridge. She has been working with Bal Jagat since 2014. Ana is bilingual (she also speaks Armenian). She has experience working for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. She has co-facilitated a support group for grandparents and other relatives who have become the primary caregivers due to neglect/abuse from biological parents. Ana has experience providing mental health services for children. She is married and has two boys ages 1 and 7 and shares her successes and failures in raising two children who have very different personalities and temperaments.
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Megan Maurer, MSW, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside & San Diego Counties
Megan Maurer received her B.A. in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University and her Master of Social Work from California State University, Fullerton. Megan has experience with both international and domestic adoption. She has also worked with children and families providing behavioral therapeutic services utilizing play therapy and cognitive behavioral techniques. Adoption has personally touched her family and close friends and she is passionate about helping families in the adoption process!
Megan Maurer received her B.A. in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University and her Master of Social Work from California State University, Fullerton. Megan has experience with both international and domestic adoption. She has also worked with children and families providing behavioral therapeutic services utilizing play therapy and cognitive behavioral techniques. Adoption has personally touched her family and close friends and she is passionate about helping families in the adoption process!
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Board of Directors |
Douglas Yeoman, Board President (and family)
Douglas Yeoman, who has served as our Board President for a number of years, is the proud father of 2 beautiful daughters he and his wife Linda adopted from China. Doug is the Managing Partner at Parker & Covert LLP, whose law firm specializes in the representation of school districts, community college districts and other public entities throughout California. In addition to his passion of assisting and advocating for both his own children and those attending the school districts his firm represents, Doug is an organist who has played for various churches since age 12, and is an avid runner who has run more than 80 marathons and half marathons.
Yogesh Patel, Board Secretary (and family)
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Yogesh Patel, who has served as our Board Secretary for three years, is the proud father of a beautiful daughter that he and his wife Mina adopted from India. Yogesh is a Senior Electronics Engineer working for the Department of Defense. In his spare time Yogesh enjoys exercising, reading, traveling, and watching sports.
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Dean Holmes, Board Treasurer (and family)
Dean Holmes is our Board Treasurer and has been so for several years and is also a 30yr practicing financial planning professional currently with VALIC Financial Advisors. In addition to spending time with his family, Dean enjoys boating, golf and many other outdoor activities. Dean is actively involved with his Church and both he and his wife Lisa are members of many of their church's support groups aimed at helping others through community service projects and activities aimed at uplifting the community.
Norman Niu, Director
Norman Niu, graduated from Guangzhou Foreign Languages Institute in China. He is bilingual and he speaks both Mandarin and Cantonese. Norman is the Manager of US Asian Affairs. He has helped hundreds of Bal Jagat families over many years.
"I spoke with Hemlata and Mausami several times. They are heart-warming, happy people who truly believe in what they do. They are the professionals of international adoption. Bal Jagat will give the best service for parents and kids. Thorough and knowledgeable, they will walk you through the process hands in hands. They are angels." - A-mei, Community member
"AMAZING, these ladies will give you the best services... these ladies were there for me and answered so many questions. This was my first experience with international adoption and I had so many questions. They responded quickly and very thoroughly every time. I only started the process and they were such good help without me even signing anything. You can tell when someone loves their job and are willing to do anything to help and that is the case in Bal Jagat.
If we do another adoption I wouldn't even hesitate on working with them again. I loved their dynamic and how they were always on top of things. Hemlata and Mausami are fantastic and I'm sure these two ladies are going straight to heaven with all the service they have provided to so many families. Hope this review helps another person looking for help in their adoption process, I wish I would've found them since the beginning. They are fantastic!"- Dascia E.
