Adoption Specialty Agency or Organization

Anjaly Connors, BSW, LSW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

Anjaly is a licensed social worker in the state of Minnesota who graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She joined Ampersand Families in January 2024 as a Youth Permanency Specialist, where she works to ensure older youth in foster care find lasting and supportive connections. In her role, Anjaly prioritizes relative and kinship placements, and strongly advocates for youth to have a voice in all permanency-related decisions. As a transracial adoptee herself, Anjaly brings a personal and informed perspective to her work.

Anjaly Connors

Mariah Cleppe, LSW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

Mariah has her Bachelor's of Social Work degree from Southwest Minnesota State University and she is a licensed social worker. Mariah formerly worked as a child protection social worker and supervisor for Southwest Health and Human Services. Currently, Mariah is a Post-Permanency Navigator with Foster Adopt Minnesota. Her role is to provide resources and answer questions that arise for families after the finalization of an adoption or transfer of permanent legal and physical custody (TPLPC).

Mariah Cleppe

Wendy L. Baker, MSW, LICSW

Biography

Wendy L. Baker, MSW, LICSW is co-founder of Family Circle Counseling, in St. Paul, MN. A family focused group practice with particular dedication to adoptive and foster care families and their unique and potentially intensive therapeutic needs. Wendy has over 40 years of therapeutic experience working with high needs children, teens, families and individuals of all ages with specialization in clinical work with trauma survivors who deal with issues surrounding childhood neglect, physical & sexual abuse and attachment traumas/disruptions.

Wendy L. Baker