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Causes: Adoption, Children & Youth, Foster Care
Mission: Ampersand families provides permanency and adoption services to older youth and families who face barriers to equity in child welfare, and champions systemic changes that advance belonging, dignity and hope.
Programs: During FY21, we supported 32 youth being placed for adoption or finalized. Fifty relatives received consultation and support regarding their desire to provide permanency to a relative child. Ten of those consultations resulted in the relative moving into the home study process, while others provided additional support to the youth. During FY21, we continued to deepen our post-placement supports by expanding the Buddy Family Program and creatively modifying family retreats. Minnesota Heart Gallery provided 83 youth with professional photo sessions. The images are used to help recruit a family and for the youth’s personal use. We strengthened the MYVoice program and provided opportunities for leadership development and engagement to 30 older youth who are living in adoptive or relative guardianship homes, foster care, group homes or residential treatment. At the end of the fiscal year we began work to replicate an evidence-based model for helping secure relative/kin placements for children and teens immediately upon their removal from their parent/s by child protection.