Midwest Adoption Center (MAC) specializes in services to people affected by adoption or DCFS guardianship care. 

MAC is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1992 to provide a wide range of services to children, adults and families touched by foster care and adoption. Before founding MAC, co-directors Nancy Golden and Gretchen Schulert worked with adoptive families and adopted individuals in a variety of settings. Gretchen and Nancy recognized that adoption was changing and that the individuals and families touched by adoption are thinking about their relationships in many new ways. The programs of the Center focus on helping each member of the adoption triad meet these new challenges.

The Illinois DCFS Closed File Information and Search Service

The Confidential Intermediary Service of Illinois

MAC also offers support and counseling to people considering adoption or struggling with issues related to adoption.

Training and consultation is available for individual social workers and agencies regarding post-adoption service.

About MAC staff
Gretchen Schulert, BA has more than 35 years of experience in adoption in Illinois, working primarily with adoptive families, both pre and post adoption.  In 1993, Ms. Schulert, along with Nancy Golden, founded Midwest Adoption Center.  She shares responsibility for the delivery of both the DCFS Post Adoption and Guardianship program and the Confidential Intermediary program.  These two services focus on the provision of information from closed adoption and foster care files and search and reunion.   She has also served as consultant to IDCFS and various private agencies on a variety of post-adoption service issues and delivers workshops and seminars for professionals and families.

Nancy Golden, MSW, LCSW has worked for more than 20 years in adoption and foster care services in an agency setting and in private practice and serves as Clinical Director of MAC.  The focus of Nancy's clinical work has been in promoting healthy growth and development for children and their birth, foster and adoptive families.  In addition, she presents workshops and seminars at local as well as national conferences and is a regular contributor to local adoptive family newsletters.

Paula has a Master of Science degree in Marital and Family Therapy and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.  Paula joined the MAC staff in 2003 and is currently the direct service supervisor of the DCFS Post-Adoption and Guardianship program.  Prior to coming to the Agency, Paula provided clinical services at several local social service agencies.  Paula has presented workshops to various community groups within the Chicago area. 

Sue F graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s degree.  Sue was the first Mac worker hired, in 1996, and continues to provide search related services to MAC clients.  She has 30 years of genealogical research experience and along with her husband, has two adopted sons. 

Sue W graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Illinois College.  Sue joined MAC as a caseworker in 2000.  Sue and her husband adopted two sons and have also fostered children.

Dawn graduated with an undergraduate degree from Columbia College Chicago and received a Master’s degree in social work from Loyola University.  She is a licensed clinical social worker.  Dawn joined our staff as a caseworker in 2004 and currently serves as a member of the Confidential Intermediary Advisory Council. 

LaKisha is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Applied Sociology at Lewis University.  LaKisha joined our staff as a program specialist in 2004. She has 10 years experience in the social service field; with 7 of those years specializing in permanency and post-adoption work.



Linda completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and her Masters of Art from DePaul University.  Linda joined the MAC staff as a caseworker in 2005.  Linda is a certified Confidential Intermediary and is also the Program Coordinator of Confidential Intermediary Service of Illinois..

Deanna graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.  She joined the MAC staff as a caseworker in 2006.

Mary Pat graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.  She joined our staff as a caseworker in 2007.

To read about how MAC staff provides supportive counseling, click here