Twin Cities - Metro

Heather Van Brunt, MEd, LSW

Biography

Heather has a M.Ed. in Counseling from North Dakota State University, a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Minnesota State University – Moorhead and is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW #10393). Heather has 15 years experience working within the adoption community. Her prior work focused on supporting birth and adoptive parents with grief, loss and open adoption relationships as well as educating and supporting parents adopting children with traumatic backgrounds.

Heather Van Brunt

Amy Turgeon, MSW, LICSW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

Amy has her Bachelor’s of Social Work degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead, and her Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of North Dakota and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Amy has 17 years of experience working in foster care/adoption agencies and chemical dependency residential settings in North Dakota and Minnesota. Amy brings with her knowledge regarding the child welfare systems, advocacy for foster care/adoption/kinship youth and families, parent education, understanding of trauma histories, and mental health diagnoses.

Amy Turgeon

Betsy Trondson, MSSW, LISW

Biography

I have over 24 years of experience working in the area of adoption. I have worked with adoptive parents, adopting infants, both domestically and internationally, birth parents, and now post adoption services, primarily facilitating search and reunion services. In the early 2000’s, I did serve as one of two trainers in the state of MN, for the “Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program.”

Address:
Children’s Home/Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
1605 Eustis Street
Saint Paul, MN 55108

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Kayla Thomas, MSW, LICSW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

Kayla is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and believes in the power of relationships to assist clients in finding their unique healing needs in ways that are comfortable and meaningful to the individual and family system. Kayla works with children (ages 3 and up), teens, and families who are experiencing behavioral and mental health needs, disruptions in attachment and family relationships, and trauma. Kayla also has experience in Preschool Mental Health Day Treatment and Child Protection Case Management.

Kayla Thomas

Kathleen Sullivan

She/Her/Hers
Biography

Navigating the world can be exhilarating and challenging. I am passionate about supporting adults and teens in thriving, not just surviving! Being able to identify and express feelings, communicate assertively, and problem-solve are essential lifeskills which I can help you strengthen. I’m here to listen, to care, and to support you as you embrace your strengths, engage meaningfully, and live your life authentically.

Kathleen Sullivan

Leah Strom, MSW, LISW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

Leah Strom has been a social worker since 2001 and has practiced in many areas since that time including child protection, adoption, foster care, training and education. Leah's current role is the Phoenix Learning Xchange (PLX) Coordinator at the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW). 

Leah Strom

Jean Storlie, MA/MS, MEd, LPCC

Biography

I have worked in the social service system for over 25 years with children and families prior to becoming a licensed clinical counselor. I am very familiar with the child protection and court system. I have attended trainings with the MN Pride Network for LGBTQ population. I have worked with adults and children on the autism spectrum. I spent 10 years working with children and birth, adoptive and foster families in the child protection system.

Jean Storlie

Bridget Stevens-Murphy, LICSW

Biography

Hello and welcome! My name is Bridget Stevens-Murphy, and I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. I earned my Master of Social Work degree with a specialization in clinical practice from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2002. Over the years, I have worked both domestically and internationally in diverse settings dedicated to supporting children, families, and communities.

Bridget Stevens-Murphy

Ashley Sneider, MSW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

I am a Supervisor at Hennepin County, working with families eligible under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). I supervise five Kinship Social Workers who search for relatives and kin for foster care placement, and two Adoption Resource Workers who assist families in finalizing their adoption. I work on Northstar Kinship and Adoption Assistance as well.

Address:
Hennepin County
300 S. 6th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55487

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