Foster Parents/Family

Julie is the executive director of Main Street Family Services, a social service agency whose focus is to support parents and their children with resources, solutions, and practical strategies they need to thrive. Julie is a social worker who has spent 20 years of her career supporting adoptive & foster care parents, and the biological parents of children who are in out-of-home placement. Julie is also a parent, adoptive parent, and grandparent.

Licensing Supervisor for child foster care agency.

Address:
Family Alternatives
1089 10th Avenue SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414

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

All people are striving for well-being in their life, with ideas, goals, and opportunities available for each unique person. It is my sincere belief that most people know the direction they aim towards in life. However, life often throws us curveballs, and it's okay to ask someone to come along for part of the journey. You may need help to reframe your perspective, build up coping skills and mindfulness, process trauma, or support your relationships in order to continue on your life's journey.

Areas that I specialize in include: working with all types of families; adoptive, foster, and kinship, adult/youth adoptees, transracial parenting, communication/conflict, life transitions, childhood trauma, child development, as well as depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health diagnosis.

Elliott is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and holds a Master’s degree from Augsburg College and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Elliott has had the privilege of working with children, youth, individuals and families of diverse backgrounds who are experiencing behavioral and mental health needs, disruptions in attachment and family relationships, trauma, as well as those experiencing the negative impacts of systemic and structural bias and racism.

Individual therapy for adolescents and adults

I am currently working as a Mental Health Practitioner at CARE Counseling. Prior to that, I worked at at St. David's primarily with kids and their families who have been a part of the foster care system. I have provided Intensive Treatment to Foster Care (ITFC), and Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO). I prioritize building strong relationships in order to support clients to be vibrant members of their communities. I recognize that our experiences in the world create our lens in which we view things.

My work as a therapist is grounded in being intentional and recognizing the privilege I have in helping others find healing as they share their experiences with me. I value relationship and connection as important contributions to my therapy work, especially with young children and their caregivers. The services I provide are grounded in attachment, relationship, and development, all while using a trauma lens which means I explore with you (and your child) what your experiences have been and how they impact you today.

Jennifer is a graduate of the Moorhead State University Social Work program. She spent the first two years of her professional career in child protection for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services before accepting a position in Douglas County where she has been ever since.