West Central

Charlotte McDonald, MSW, LICSW

Biography

Char earned her Masters in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas/St. Catherine University in 2011. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker by the MN Board of Social Work and has certificates in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and Permanency and Adoption. Char has 14 years experience working within the child welfare system, and is well-versed in safety and support planning with families, infant and early childhood mental health, child development, foster care and adoption issues, and attachment.

Charlotte McDonald

Stacie Martin, LSW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

I have worked in Child Protection for eight years; I provide ongoing case management to families and children. Our primary focus is reunification and helping maintain the family unit. However, I also work with youth post-permanency until a permanency plan can be finalized.

Address:
Clay County Social Services
715 11th St. N.
Moorhead, MN 56560

Stacie Martin

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

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

Nicole Frank

She/Her/Hers
Biography

County work in CP, permanency, licensing and relative work. Always learning and changing to do what is most helpful for the children in our communities.

Address:
Stevens County Human Services
400 Colorado Ave
Suite 104
Morris, MN 56267

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Laura Filzen, MSW

She/Her/Hers
Biography

Adoption and Permanency Social worker for a MN county.

Address:
Brown County Human Services
1117 Center Street
New Ulm, MN 56073

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Jill Esser, MSW

Biography

I practice social work and provide case management services to children and families involved with the child protection system in Becker County. I work predominantly with families with young children. I work with birth families to address safety and well-being of children and provide referral for services and service assessment to achieve family stabilization and safety. Part of my practice also includes locating and assessing appropriate relatives or non-relatives for placement of children in foster care or for the purposes of permanent placement.

Jill Esser

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