County Child-welfare Setting

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). 

Child services within the child protection system.

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

County Case Management/Permanency.

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

Teresa Schumacher, LSW, is a Permanency Social Worker and Foster Care Licensor with Minnesota Prairie County Alliance. She provides case management for children awaiting adoption while under guardianship of the State or Minnesota as well as licensing child foster care programs.

Address:
Minnesota Prairie County Alliance
1000 W. Elm Avenue
Waseca, MN 56093

I have worked in child protection (county agency) since 2006. My practice runs from the assignment of a child protection case, fresh from assessment/investigation, through to permanency. In 2024, I became Child Protection Team Lead for the ongoing case managers, which shifts the focus of my work to half-time leadership. This includes case assignment, frequent consultation, case audit, and court report/case plan reviews. The other half of my time, I am out doing a job I love just as much (case management), gathering stories and creating relationships.

I have been in the field of child welfare since 2008, many years prior spent working in groups homes and shelters. A majority of my county experience, short of 10 years, was in on-going case management, many of these as a Lead in the on-going unit. I then spent a few years doing FAR/Investigations before transitioning into adoptions. I am currently a Child Welfare Supervisor.

Address:
Sherburne County Health and Human Services
13880 Business Center Drive NW
Elk River, MN 55330

I have been providing services to children, families, & communities for over 40 years, in child welfare, foster care, domestic abuse, tribal social services, recreational therapy, children's residential services, adolescent chemical dependency, & education. Currently, an Assistant Professor-BASW Practicum Director with the College of St Scholastica's Social Work Department, trainer with University of Minnesota in Permanency & Adoption Certificate Program (PACC) & as a QI (qualified individual) & trainer of new QI's.

Kari J. Peters brings over 25 years of experience working with children and families facing severe mental health challenges. She holds a Master of Science degree in Community Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Kari currently serves as a Children’s Mental Health Case Manager, providing coordinated and individualized support to children with severe emotional disorders. Prior to her role as a CMH case manager, she delivered in-home family therapy, supporting families through early intervention and preventative mental health services.