Today on off the cuff:
Dinah interviews 3 women from Options Beyond Adoptions and their efforts to grow the list of life.
It is the mission of Options Beyond Adoption to provide another choice, another option to women who have an unplanned pregnancy. Our new option is for the expectant mother who wants to keep her child, but believes her circumstances right now do not allow for her to raise her baby.
The focus of our charity is to provide another alternative for the unexpectedly pregnant woman. We’d like to make it possible for a woman who finds herself pregnant and unable to care for a baby to have the chance to get to know her child and be reunited with her child in the future when she is in a better position to care for him/her.
We believe that many women who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant choose adoption or abortion, not out of lack of love for their child, but out of a lack of an alternative. The result being that it is very difficult or impossible for her to ever have a relationship with her child.
We want to help the expectant mother find loving, nurturing volunteer guardians who will care for her child while she is unable to do so, while still allowing her to have a relationship with her child. The goal being that the volunteer guardians will mentor her and guide her until she feels ready to care for her child herself.
Learn more about Options Beyond Adoptions
About Us
Meet our Board of Directors
Executive Director: Mrs. Valerie Morales
Mrs. Valerie Morales is currently Executive Director and one of the board of directors for Options Beyond Adoption. Valerie is a native New Mexican born and raised in Albuquerque’s South Valley; a graduate of Rio Grande HS, attended CNM and is a Licensed Cosmetologist. Valerie currently homeschools three of her children and is involved with her children’s sports programs. She is also a business owner as a shopping consultant and holistic health educator. Valerie is a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She previously worked for the City of Albuquerque’s Independent Review Office of the Police Oversight Commission as the Senior Administrative Assistant. Mrs. Morales is also a wife, mother of five and grandmother of two. Valerie’s passion to keep families together through mentorship comes from her upbringing.
Valerie was conceived from a heroin addicted dad who met her mother while she was a single mom with a son. Valerie’s brother was abused during their upbringing physically and mentally. As an infant he was in foster care due to the abuse.. Valerie has an older sister who was put up for adoption when Valerie’s mother was a teenager and she and Valerie met in 2019. Had her mother been given the opportunity of Volunteer Guardians along with mentorship her mother could have been the mom she deserved to be for all of her children.
Valerie will grow the List of Life!
President: Rita Rodriguez
Mrs. Rita Rodriguez is currently the President , a Board Director and Volunteer Guardian for Options Beyond Adoption. She currently works full time for the City of Albuquerque’s Fire Rescue as an Accounting Assistant. Mrs. Rodriguez is a Native New Mexican and a Native American from Acoma Pueblo. She was raised in the South Valley and a graduate of Rio Grande High School. She has been married to her husband for 26 years. She has three children, two who are adults and her youngest still in high school. She is very close and involved in her youngest child’s school activities as she has been for all her kids and other kids she has helped raise. She and her husband have helped raise several other children who are all grown now and on great paths in life. Her community activities include serving as Volunteer Guardians and Mentors to children who need a home and parental guidance. Rita also has her own small business as an Independent Consultant with Paparazzi Jewelry and Accessories.
Director: Diane McDermott
Ms. Diane McDermott is a UNM alumni. Diane currently is Lead Investigator for the Civilian Police Oversight Agency for the City of Albuquerque. She has been with the City for over 15 years. Diane is an avid art collector of jewelry, dolls and any art she can get her hands on. She also is a board member for her doll club. Diane enjoys travelling and attending the Pow Wow annually. Diane is a board member for OBA.
Vice President: Rosella Montoya
Mrs. Rosella Montoya is currently Vice President, a Board Director. Rosella is a native New Mexican from the North Valley; a graduate of Valley HS. Rosella lived in Germany for many years with her family growing up. Her dad served in the military and they were stationed there. Rosella is currently a registered nurse and alumni of UNMs Nursing program. She is working on her advanced degree. Rosella has been in the medical field for over 20 years. She has been married for 30 years and has five children who are all adults. She has three grandchildren. She has always been involved in the school with her children and now grandchildren. She has also been involved with the Girl Scouts program with her family.
Director: Rick Rodriguez
Mr. Rick Rodriguez is on the Board of Directors for Options Beyond Adoption works full time as The Bridge Crew Supervisor for New Mexico Department of Transportation. He is a Native New Mexican and raised in the South Valley. He has been married to his wife for 26 years. He has three children, two who are adults and his youngest still in high school. He is very close and involved in his youngest child’s school activities as he has been for all his children and children he has helped raise. He and his wife have helped raise several other children who are all grown now and on great paths in life. His community activities include serving as Volunteer Guardians and Mentors to children who need a home and parental guidance.
Director: Mary Reyna
Ms. Mary Reyna is a transport officer for Metropolitan Detention Center. She is a mother and has a passion to help mothers and children. Her own upbringing has guided her to OBA.
Director: Jay Rowland
Mr. Rowland was an attorney in the Air Force for 30 years. He retired in Albuquerque and became the Independent Review Officer for the Police Oversight Commission in Albuquerque for 5 years. He and his wife moved to Warwick, NY to take care of his in-laws. While in Warwick, Jay was a director and co-founder of Backpack Snack Attack. This charity feeds public school children, who are on free and reduced school lunch programs, on the weekends. In 2017, he became one of the co-founders of Options Beyond Adoption in Albuquerque, NM. He currently serves as Treasurer of OBA.
Director: Rodrigo Morales
Mr. Rodrigo Morales Valerie is a native New Mexican born and raised in Albuquerque’s North Valley. Mr. Morales is an Elevator Mechanic for TKE and was Union President for Local 131 for many years. He also was a member of the JAC board as well as sitting on the Executive Board for the union. He is a former lineman and did that for over 10 years. Rodrigo currently coaches youth wrestling with his daughter who is assistant coach and his two youngest children are on the team. He is a Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner.
