My name is Sophia “Renee” Hamett. I usually go by Renee. I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and lived there for most of my adult life. For college I attended Western Washington University and graduated with a BA in English. I have six children, four adopted as infants through foster care, two of them are of Alaskan Native heritage. My four adopted children experience special needs. I always say that my children trained me for Social Services, and I can’t imagine life without them.
Once my youngest child started school I began working in the Social Services Arena as a Family Advocate, or “Parent Navigator,” for parents raising children with special needs. During my time in Alaska, I also participated as a member of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Team. In 2012 my family moved to NC to be closer to my extended family. I worked with VAYA Health and with DSS covering seven of the Western NC Counties, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Boundary. My last position was as an Adoption Worker with Cherokee County DSS. I retired from that position last fall and am excited to be working with Children’s Adoption Services, Inc. Currently, I live with my husband, youngest daughter and her seizure alert golden doodle, “Fendi,” in Brasstown, NC. We can also be found enjoying fishing on Douglas Lake at our vacation home in Dandridge, TN.
Can’t wait to get to meet you all.