Thank you for your interest in Minnesota's waiting children. These children are in the foster care system throughout the State of Minnesota. Social service agencies and the courts have determined that the families into which these children were born are unable to care for them and parental rights have been terminated.
Children's Home Society & Family Services (CHSFS) is one of several licensed private agencies selected to participate in an initiative designed to increase the number of adoptions of children under state guardianship. This initiative is known as the Public Private Adoption Initiative. While CHSFS has had a program to place MN's waiting children since 1980, this initiative allows us to provide these adoption services at no cost to families.
Adoption is a challenging and rewarding experience and the adoption of children with special needs requires knowledge and support. Our program has both.
Knowledge: As experts in adoption, our adoption education classes and parenting workshops provide adoptive families with realistic, current and practical information on a full range of special needs adoption issues. We have a library of books, tapes and videos. Additionally, we are knowledgeable about, and have developed relationships with, hundreds of community resources within Minnesota. Our staff place a priority on their own continuing professional development in the area of adoption-related issues.
Support Services: Support services are offered to adoptive parents, birth children and adopted children. These services include educational workshops, individual work with birth and previously adopted children, individual and family counseling, parent support groups, and groups for kids as well as other support services during placement, finalization and post adoption. The Post Adoption Department at Children's Home Society & Family Services provides services to all parties to adoption throughout their lives.
Staff: The Program for Minnesota's Waiting Children has a staff of 15. Staff have the experience, expertise and commitment to join with families in the preparation, matching and placement of these special children. The administrative/support team includes a Program Director, Program Coordinator and Program Assistant. All of our social workers are licensed in Minnesota at a Master's level. Each staff person is passionate about children and committed to making a difference in their lives. As a team, the staff is able to access an unlimited source of ideas, strategies, resources and creative options for families.
To attend a Minnesota Waiting Children Informational Meeting, click here.
For more information about the Program for Minnesota's Waiting Children, please contact one of the following people:
Mary Jo Michalik, Program Coordinator
651-255-2218
Mikki Harris, Coordinator Education & Recruitment-Domestic Adoption
651-255-2370
Gloria Dennis, Program Assistant
651-255-2201
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