Minnesota Adoption Resource Network

TO FIND AND STRENGTHEN MINNESOTA ADOPTIVE, FOSTER CARE AND KINSHIP FAMILIES.

ZERO KIDS WAITING (ZKW) PROGRAM - THE GATEWAY TO INFORMATION ABOUT ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE, AND KINSHIP CARE IN MINNESOTA. PROVIDES STATEWIDE INFORMATION ABOUT ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE, AND KINSHIP CARE BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NEWS AND PRINT MEDIA. CREATES ONLINE FEATURES OF CHILDREN IN MINNESOTA WHO NEED AN ADOPTIVE FAMILY IMMEDIATELY. THIS PROGRAM HAD 65,810 CONTACTS WHERE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL WERE PROVIDED, AND 123 CHILDREN REGISTERED ON THE STATE ADOPTION EXCHANGE WERE PLACED WITH ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. EDUCATION FOR FOSTER, ADOPTIVE, & KINSHIP PARENTS, AND PROFESSIONALS: FOSTER ADOPT MINNESOTA SUPPORTS FAMILIES BY PROVIDING TRAININGS ON MENTAL HEALTH, THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA, AND COMMON CHALLENGES FOR ADOPTED CHILDREN AND THOSE IN FOSTER CARE AND KINSHIP PLACEMENTS. FAM IS A STRONG RESOURCE FOR PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE YOUTH CONNECTED WITH THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. TRAININGS OFFERED SPECIFICALLY TO PROFESSIONALS INCLUDE TOPICS SUCH AS SUPPORTING BIRTH FAMILY CONNECTIONS, WORKING WITH LGBTQ+ YOUTH, TRAUMA, AND THE CULTURE OF POVERTY. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2023 THE EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDED EDUCATION TO 20,349 PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS. HELP PROGRAM: FOSTER ADOPT MINNESOTA OFFERS A WARMLINE FOR ALL ADOPTIVE, FOSTER AND KINSHIP FAMILIES THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA AND IS STAFFED BY HELP SPECIALISTS WITH ADVANCED TRAINING IN PERMANENCY SUPPORT SERVICES. THIS FREE SERVICE CONNECTS FAMILIES WITH ADOPTION, TRAUMA AND ATTACHMENT COMPETENT THERAPISTS IN THEIR AREA, PARENT CONSULTATION, TRAINING, AND NEEDED COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE HELP PROGRAM ALSO ASSISTS ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WITH FUNDING TO HELP WITH THE COST OF THERAPY WITH VETTED THERAPISTS AND ELIGIBLE SUPPORTS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022 THE HELP PROGRAM PROVIDED SERVICES TO 288 FAMILIES AND 226 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROFESSIONALS. POST-ADOPTION SEARCH SERVICES: FOSTER ADOPT MINNESOTA PROVIDES POST-ADOPTION REFERRAL SERVICES TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE SEARCHERS IN CONNECTING WITH THEIR ADOPTION PLACING AGENCY AND COUNTY OF ADOPTION FINALIZATION. FAM ALSO PROVIDES POST ADOPTION FUNDING TO ELIGIBLE REQUESTORS WHEN OTHER FUNDING IS UNAVAILABLE. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2023 POST SEARCH SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 394 INDIVIDUALS. POST-ADOPTION NAVIGATOR: FOSTER ADOPT MINNESOTA SENDS OUTREACH AND POST-PERMANENCY SUPPORT INFORMATION TO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY FINALIZED ADOPTIONS. THE POST-ADOPTION NAVIGATOR HELPS TO ADDRESS THEIR QUESTIONS AND RESOURCE NEEDS, RAISES AWARENESS AROUND THE POST-PERMANENCY SERVICES AVAILABLE IN MINNESOTA, AND CONNECTS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO THOSE SERVICE PROVIDERSFOR UP TO 12 MONTHS PAST THEIR FAMILIES' ADOPTION. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2023, THE PAN PROGRAM HAD CONTACT WITH 6,281 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHERE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL WERE PROVIDED.