Adoption - Adoptive Parent Services

Julie is the executive director of Main Street Family Services, a social service agency whose focus is to support parents and their children with resources, solutions, and practical strategies they need to thrive. Julie is a social worker who has spent 20 years of her career supporting adoptive & foster care parents, and the biological parents of children who are in out-of-home placement. Julie is also a parent, adoptive parent, and grandparent.

I have worked in child welfare, kinship care, and adoption since 2004. I started out serving as a volunteer Guardian ad Litem with the Second Judicial District. From 2006-2017, I filled a variety of roles with the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) that primarily centered around advocacy, support, leadership capacity development, and education for youth, young adults, families, and professionals within the foster care, kinship care, and adoption communities.

I have had over 25 years of experience working therapeutically with children, adolescents and adults through therapeutic foster care, adoption (of bi-racial child with disabilities), grief, trauma and loss therapy individually, couples and families. Most significant training and expertise in grief and trauma. Trauma Studies certificate from U of Minn. and a certified thanatologist. Mother of seven adults, grandmother of ten above average grandchildren, married 40+ years.

Address:
Itasca County Health and Human Services
1209 SE 2nd Ave
Grand Rapids, MN 55744

When meeting clients I begin with the question of "What happened to you" rather than "What is wrong with you." When I get to watch and bear witness as an individual or family grows and is able to heal it humbles me! I like to walk along side those I work with in helping them develop/discover the life and relationships they desire. I also enjoy working with couples in achieving satisfying marriages or relationships.

My work as a therapist is grounded in being intentional and recognizing the privilege I have in helping others find healing as they share their experiences with me. I value relationship and connection as important contributions to my therapy work, especially with young children and their caregivers. The services I provide are grounded in attachment, relationship, and development, all while using a trauma lens which means I explore with you (and your child) what your experiences have been and how they impact you today.

In my practice I provide therapy to children, teens, adults and families. I have worked with children of all ages dealing with a variety of issues including, anxiety and depression, adjustment issues, developmental disorders (Autism Spectrum Disorders), attachment disorders and issues of trauma and abuse. I have worked for many years with children and families involved in the foster care and adoption systems.

Michele Lovehaug received her bachelor of arts degree from Concordia College in 1997 in both social work and Spanish. She went on to complete her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Minnesota in 1999. Ms. Lovehaug is a Licensed Independent Social Worker in both North Dakota and Minnesota. She is also a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work.

I am dedicated to working with individuals and families by supporting hope and growth through a family systems perspective and trauma informed care. As a counselor, I focus on wellness and what we can do to help you feel hopeful as we begin to change your story. My work stems from an attachment, developmental, and systems lens and how they impact functioning throughout one’s life. I find encouragement in working together to build from your personal strengths and resilience to help you heal and feel more connected to your environment and relationships.

I currently work as the Adoption Social Worker at Nexus Kindred Family Healing based out of the Saint Cloud office. I provider child specific recruitment services to children waiting for adoptive families in the MN foster care system. I also provide licensing and matching services to families looking to adopt a MN waiting child.

Address:
Nexus Kindred Family Healing
412 Great Oak Drive
Waite Park, MN 56387