North Central

Jenna Koenig, BSW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

*Complete background studies for stepparent adoptions taking place within Sherburne County-fees apply.

*Complete post adoption searches referred from the Department of Human Services for adults who were adopted through Sherburne County Health and Human Services.

"Philosophy of the Adoption Program"
Every child in Sherburne County who is legally free for adoption deserves a permanent home.

Jenna Koenig

Brandon Jensen, MS, LMFT-S, PACC

Biography

Brandon is committed to the restoration and improvement of familial relationships and committed to generational change in families. Brandon feels very strongly about working with individuals and families whatever their current situation may be and working with them to establish positive changes that will positively affect generations to come in their families.

Brandon Jensen

Tina Jay, MA/MS

Biography

I hold an AS, BSW, MA, and have advocated for children as a Guardian Ad Litem since 1997. A background in Early Childhood Education, Bachelors Degree in Social Work and a Masters Degree in Forensic Mental Health. I pursued a degree in Forensic Mental Health because of personal experience working with children and adults with mental illness, many with adverse childhood experiences, including FASD and other neurobehavioral disorders resulting in out of home placements; foster care, adoption, disrupted adoptions, child protection, or involvement in the criminal justice system.

Tina Jay

Tarah Groettum, MSEd, LPCC

Biography

Tarah Groettum holds a Master of Science in Education (MSEd), with a clinical counseling focus. As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Certified Autism Specialist (CAS), Permanency and Adoption Competency Certified (PACC), and Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), Tarah brings a wealth of specialized training to her practice. She is also fully trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

Tarah Groettum

Katherine Dachtler, MSW, LCSW, LICSW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

Katherine Dachtler is an international, Transracial Adoptee who was raised and lives in the upper Midwest. Katherine strives to meet you where you are and aims to uncover and focus on your strengths to empower you throughout your healing journey. She believes each individual has a unique, intersectional framework through which they experience the world. She specializes in working with Adoptees, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA2S+ communities and has worked with folx impacted by medical trauma, differing abilities, sexual assault/abuse, and domestic violence.

Katherine Dachtler

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

Hannah Burton, MSW, LISW, JD

She/Her/Hers
Biography

Child welfare policy reform, legal services for parents and relatives/kin in juvenile protection matters.

Hannah Burton

Miranda Barker, LICSW, LCSW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

I’m a therapist who specializes in working with individuals going through life transitions (becoming parent, job changes, graduating college) and families touched by adoption, including birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees. I bring experience from both the clinical side and the child welfare world, and I love helping people of all ages feel seen and supported. I am an adoptive parent myself and with adoption in my family of origin.

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