Post-Adoption Resource and Referral

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.

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.

Cam’s personal experience as an international adoptee from Korea informs and inspires his current professional work. He formed his own private practice, Therapy Redeemed, in 2018, to raise awareness and respond to the mental health needs of adoptees and their families wherever they may be in their adoption journey. Cam is PACC certified and registered as an accredited service provider through TAC via Center for Adoption Support and Education. He is also a vetted clinician with Foster Adopt MN.

Post Adopt is a program that provides support to families who have adopted from foster care, families who have adopted infants or children internationally or domestically, and to families who provide guardianship to a child in their home. We are a support system that offers a wide array of services at no charge to families. We offer a supportive network that families gain and continue to build as their child develops.

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.

Gretchan is currently a lead Children's Mental Health social worker in a county setting. Previously, Gretchan worked as a post-permanency social worker, providing voluntary case management services and support to families that recently experienced an adoption or transfer of custody. Gretchan is also trained in Circle of Security and has experience working in a hospital setting.

Address:
Sherburne County
13880 Business Center Drive NW
Elk River, MN 55330

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.

*Complete background studies for stepparent adoptions taking place within Sherburne County-fees apply.

*Complete post adoption searches referred from the Department of Human Services for adults who were adopted through Sherburne County Health and Human Services.

"Philosophy of the Adoption Program"
Every child in Sherburne County who is legally free for adoption deserves a permanent home.

Home study assessments, licensing, placement and support for family and corporate child foster care homes, foster care support groups, foster care and adoption training, post-adoption support

Address:
Anoka County
2100 3rd Ave.
Suite 500
Anoka, MN 55303

Meagan Galbari, MA, LPCC has been working with children and families for over 25 years in a variety of settings including psychiatric hospitals, day-treatment programs, domestic violence refuges, residential treatment centers and in private adoption agencies.  Meagan’s passion is in adoption and foster care and supporting children and families through their journey.  Meagan is committed to assisting parents through the lifelong process of adoption and empowering them with the tools to help children heal while maintaining healthy families.