MNFCM Partners   

The following organizations are partnering to promote awareness of the challenges facing children and youth in foster care in the Twin Cities area:

C2i – Connections 2 Independence (c2iyouth.org) exists to provide unique programming and advocacy to foster care youth, ages 15-21, to promote a successful transition to living independently as they reach adulthood. This is done through a holistic approach to teaching independent living skills through a healthy mind, body, and soul.

Hennepin County (hennepin.us) provides child protection, adoption, foster care, and foster care licensing services to provide assistance and guidance for youth, biological families, and individuals and families interested in providing foster care and/ or adopting youth from the foster care system.

GAL of Minnesota, Hennepin County (Guardians ad Litem) (http://mn.gov/guardian-ad-litem/employment-and-volunteering/becoming-a-volunteer.jsp) provides professional advocates who are appointed by the Juvenile or Family Court to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court proceedings. Guardians ad Litem are volunteers or staff who work with youth, families and the child protection system to create better outcomes for youth in court.

Ampersand Families (ampersandfamilies.org) recruits and supports permanent families for older youth, and champions practices in adoption and permanency that restore belonging, dignity and hope.

Children’s Law Center of Minnesota (CLC) (clcmn.org) promotes the rights and interests of Minnesota’s children, especially children of color and children with disabilities, in the judicial, child welfare, health care, and education systems. CLC works to stabilize and protect foster care and at-risk youth through direct legal representation, systemic reform, and education.