we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, licensed adoption agency serving all of california
Meet Our Founders
Georgia Leonard, RN, MSW
CoFounder
With a deep desire to help children in need, Georgia co-founded the Family Network Adoption Center (previously known as The Family Network, Inc.) back in 1979 along with her husband Luke, and now serves as a consultant to the agency.
Georgia has her RN degree from Maryville University, her bachelor of arts degree in psychology from St Louis University, her master’s degree in social work from Washington University and Hebrew training from Webster University.
As a child, Georgia watched her grandmother care for many foster children, who later became godparents to her siblings. That influence, along with the scriptures, became Georgia’s motivation to make an impact in the world through helping at-risk children.
After spending seven years in a Benedictine Convent, devoted to a Monastic Life of prayer and silence, Georgia went to live on Ein Shemer Kibbutz in Israel to advance her studies of Hebrew. Eventually, she moved to Bethlehem where she worked as a Registered Nurse in a hospital for disabled children, which was attached to an orphanage that ultimately began her adoption journey.
After returning to the States, she met and married her husband Luke, who also wanted to adopt children in need. Georgia and Luke went on to have 6 multi-ethnic children: 3 internationally adopted, 1 domestically adopted & 2 biological children. The experience of adopting her own children helped fuel the creation of the agency and has been an invaluable resource for the thousands of clients Georgia has served.
After many decades of working as a social worker, conducting home studies and placing children for adoption all over the US from many different countries, Georgia and Luke decided to turn over the agency to their daughter Audrey in 2016. Georgia uses her wealth of knowledge in her current role as a consultant for the agency and also helps care for her 4 local grandchildren.
Luke Leonard, MSW
CoFounder
After the adoption of his first child, Luke felt a calling to help others who wanted to adopt, and co-founded the Family Network Adoption Center (previously known as The Family Network, Inc.) back in 1979 along with his wife Georgia. Luke now serves as a consultant to the agency, using his vast lived experience that spans 45 years of building families through adoption.
Luke earned his bachelor of arts degree in sociology from St. Norbert College in Wisconsin and his master’s degree in social work from St Louis University in Missouri.
Prior to forming the agency, Luke gained valuable skills working as an alcoholism counselor in a treatment center. Following that, he had a transformative cultural experience, similar to the Peace Corps, on the Sioux Indian reservation in South Dakota. He also volunteered at an inner city Catholic church in Cleveland, Ohio, that provided him with a new sense of gratitude while serving people in need. As part of his graduate studies at St. Louis University, he became a participant on Kibbutz Neve Yam in Israel, teaching him the value of cooperation, teamwork and interconnectedness.
After earning his MSW, Luke worked as a social worker at a state hospital in the Youth Center Division and a counselor at the Agape Center in St. Louis, Missouri, advancing his ethical-decision making. Luke believes in a compassionate, holistic and inclusive philosophy of service, which is evident in his continued volunteer work. Luke has served on the advisory board of the Monterey Young Life Ministry and as a project manager for the American Camping Association.
Luke and his wife Georgia have 6 multi-ethnic children: 3 internationally adopted, 1 domestically adopted & 2 biological children. His unique parenting journey has provided him with deep insight into the complexities of adoption, making him an excellent resource for all members of the adoption triad.
Luke’s many decades of working as a social worker on the front lines, including conducting both international and domestic adoption home studies, birth parent relinquishments and counseling, help him in his current role as a consultant to the agency. He now also takes care of his 4 local grandchildren with his wife Georgia.