Adoption Assistance

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

Erin earned her Master’s of Social Work from the University of North Dakota in 2019, following her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Argosy University in 2006. She has been working with individuals impacted by trauma since 2006, bringing extensive experience from various settings, including residential chemical dependency treatment, community-based mental health, school-based, outpatient mental health and chemical dependency, and community social work consultation.

County Case Management/Permanency.

Address:
Chisago County Health and Human Services
313 North Main Street
Center City, MN 55012

Joy works with children, teens, and adults at Heart to Heart, focusing on trauma, adoption, and attachment. She practices individual, group, and family therapy. Joy graduated with a Master of Arts from Bethel University in May 2022. She is pursuing an LPCC and is working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist.

Address:
Heart to Heart Child and Family Counseling
127 County Road C
Suite 6
Little Canada, MN 55117

Address:
Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64944
Saint Paul, MN 55164-0944

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.

I am currently the Deputy Director of Health and Human Services with managerial responsibility for child-serving programs. Previously, I was the supervisor of Child Welfare supervisor of Child Welfare services and Licensing at Nicollet County with previous experience as a case manager for children’s mental health, child protective services and adoption case management. I use the information and perspectives I learned through the PACC training every day in my work.

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

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.

Aimee Klinski, MSW, is the Permanency/Adoption Social Worker for Winona County providing services related to permanency planning and the elements of adoption for children under the guardianship of the State of Minnesota. She works closely with Ongoing Child Protection Case Managers for concurrent permanency planning.