New York, NY, June 17, 2019 – Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children, a premier and globally recognized non-profit adoption and family services organization, announced today that its Board of Directors has unanimously chosen Yekaterina (Kate) Trambitskaya as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Spence-Chapin’s mission is to help find loving
families for children whatever their needs or circumstances and to provide counseling and support for all children and families to whom they have been born or entrusted. Ms. Trambitskaya, who served as Spence-Chapin General Counsel for seven years, and Interim CEO for the last year, assumed the permanent leadership role in May 2019.

“For over a century, Spence-Chapin has found loving families in the United States for more than 25,000 children domestically, and from 23 countries around the world,” said Ian Rowe, Chairman of the Board of Spence-Chapin. “After a comprehensive search process that attracted a diverse and talented array of candidates, the board is thrilled to have selected a results-focused leader who has the rare combination of empathy, integrity, deep experience in child welfare and adoption, and institutional knowledge necessary to lead Spence-Chapin into its next century.”

Since its inception, Spence-Chapin has pioneered a unique suite of best practices – dubbed the “Spence-Chapin Way” – that empowers the organization to live out its core belief that every child deserves a forever family. Today, Spence-Chapin is the premier provider of comprehensive options counseling, and pre-and post-adoption supports that preserve the wellbeing of all members of the adoption triad: birth parents, adoptive parents, and their children.

The appointment of Ms. Trambitskaya concludes an extensive national search conducted by Sandler Search, a leading executive search firm.

“As an immigrant and refugee who came to this great country with my family in my pre-teens, I deeply understand the importance of having a strong family to provide a stable and nurturing environment for children,” said Kate. “I look forward to using my experiences to broaden the impact of Spence-Chapin both domestically and overseas and to ensure the most vulnerable children experience a safe, permanent home as a human right…To lead Spence-Chapin is a true honor.”

Ms.Trambitskaya began working at Spence-Chapin in 2012, initially serving as Executive Vice President and general counsel for the organization. As CEO, she will now oversee the strategic planning and execution of an organization with a strong history, heritage, and reputation as well as build on the organization’s legacy as a prominent voice and leading advocate for adoption. This unique opportunity allows Kate to shepherd a storied organization into a new phase of growth focused on its core mission of helping children in need.

Over the last two decades, Ms. Trambitskaya dedicated her career to helping hundreds of New York’s children. Prior to joining Spence-Chapin, Kate served as an attorney and senior team leader in the Brooklyn Family Court Legal Services of the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) where she represented the Commissioner of Social Services in judicial
proceedings designed to protect some of the city’s most vulnerable children and families. At ACS, she passionately fought for those in crisis, who were abandoned, abused, and neglected. And as General Counsel for Spence-Chapin, she advocated for birth parents and assured permanency for children both domestically and abroad.

Kate is a fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorney and an alumna of The Posse Foundation. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a JD from St. John’s University School of Law.

About Spence-Chapin Services to Families & Children Spence-Chapin has been offering exceptional adoption and family services for more than 100 years. Its mission is to help find loving families for children whatever their needs or circumstances and provide counseling and lifelong support for all children and families to whom they have been born or entrusted. Spence-Chapin’s roots date back to the early 1900s with the pioneering work of Ms. Clara Spence and Dr. and Mrs. Henry Chapin, who established nurseries for infants abandoned on the streets of New York City, led humanitarian efforts, and created families through adoption. Spence-Chapin has since expanded to include other comprehensive support programs. The organization’s award-winning efforts have served more than 25,000 women, children, and families through domestic, international and special needs adoption, post-adoption support, and humanitarian aid programs such as the Granny Program. Find out more at spence-chapin.org