County/Tribal Services

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.

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

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

Char earned her Masters in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas/St. Catherine University in 2011. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker by the MN Board of Social Work and has certificates in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and Permanency and Adoption. Char has 14 years experience working within the child welfare system, and is well-versed in safety and support planning with families, infant and early childhood mental health, child development, foster care and adoption issues, and attachment.

I work as a Legal Services Specialist with Adult Representation Services (ARS) in Hennepin County. My role focuses heavily on supporting individuals who are involved with Child Protection. Though ARS represents individuals facing a variety of civil Court cases, working with the Parent Representation Attorney's team currently accounts for the majority of my work.

I have worked in Child Protection for eight years; I provide ongoing case management to families and children. Our primary focus is reunification and helping maintain the family unit. However, I also work with youth post-permanency until a permanency plan can be finalized.

Address:
Clay County Social Services
715 11th St. N.
Moorhead, MN 56560

Child Protection Ongoing Case Management as well as the Permanency Worker - Adoptions and Transfers of Physical and Legal Custody

Address:
Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties
115 W 1st St
Fairmont, MN 56031

I was both a Child Welfare Scholar and a NCWWI scholar during the MSW program at UMD. I have been working in the front lines as a child protection case manager for the last 10 years, 6 of those being in tribal welfare. I have spent the majority of my professional career working with Indigenous families and communities while following and implementing the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA). Additionally, I have been training with UMD’s Tribal Training and Certification Partnership (TTCP) since November 2021.

I currently am a County Social Worker with Rice County Social Services providing children’s services in the areas of Child Protection, Child Welfare and the Parent Support Outreach Program. I have previously worked in the area of family reunification and adoption providing families with Family Group Services in Blue Earth, Nicollet, Sibley, Brown and Watonwan counties. Prior to that I have several years’ experience doing In-home Family Therapy and skills work. Many of the children I work with struggle with permanency and adoption issues.