My primary focus of practice is with adolescents in crisis, with guardians being my secondary practice and the child's systems being tertiary. I have my Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of St Thomas (St. Paul, MN), an LGSW and LICSW. My undergrad is in Gender Studies from Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, Ca).
Areas of Interest/Specialty: Adoption/Foster Care, Trans-Racial Adoption, Trauma, FASD, Anxiety, Depression, Grief and Loss, ADHD, Autism, Developmental or Learning Disability
Licensure: Licensed Independent Social Worker in the State of Minnesota, Board Approved Supervisor with the Minnesota Board of Social Work
As PACC Coordinator, Keely completed PACC with the 2015-16 Twin Cities cohort. Prior to joining the CASCW team, she practiced both community and clinical social work with a focus on autism spectrum and related disorders across the lifespan, and is particularly interested in the intersection of child welfare and disability.
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.
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.
Patty Miller, LPCC is a one of the first therapists in Minnesota to work in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility for children. She is employed at Northwood Children’s Services –PRTF in Duluth, MN. Patty has over 25 years of experience working with children and families. She also has a MA in Management and is a former CEO of a Children’s Advocacy Center. Patty has provided foster care to over 100 children and has advanced professional training in EMDR, Grief and Loss, Temperament Assessments and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
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
Amariah McCarthy, MSW, LICSW is a therapist with Children's Minnesota working in one of their Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) in Lakeville, MN. Amariah is currently providing individual and family therapy, crisis stabilization and therapeutic groups for adolescents through the PHP. I have 6 years of working in child welfare between Washington state and Mississippi.
*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.
