Post Adoption Support Services

In full transparency, our goal is to eliminate fees for these services. Currently, we utilize contracts and grant funding to offer some services at no cost. We are continually exploring funding options for all services.

There are costs associated with providing post adoption services, some of which can be complex. CH/LSS must adhere to state statutes, cases can require us to seek legal consultation. Additionally, our staff needs to be compensated, trained, and supported. There are also ongoing administrative expenses to protect, access, and preserve adoption records.

According to Minnesota Statute Sec 259.83 Subd.5 “The commissioner, the commissioner’s agency, and licensed child-placing agencies may require a reasonable expense reimbursement for providing services required in this section.”

As an organization, what we can offer now is a reduction or elimination of service fees through our Adoption Support Fund grant program. Last year, we granted over $175,000 to folks using our adoption and post adoption services.

In an effort to remove additional barriers, our Adoption Support Fund request is now an optional section included in the Service Request Form.

Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

The services of Children’s Home and LSS are available to all people. Reasonable accommodations shall be made for people who have communication difficulties and those who speak a language other than English.

CH/LSS Grievance Policy, Licensing & Other Information

The origin of our post adoption support services can be traced back to the perseverance of one tenacious Children’s Home social worker, Marietta Spencer.

As a result of her leadership, Children’s Home was the first agency in the U.S. to make continuing services available after a child’s legal adoption. Marietta spent much of her 27-year career with Children’s Home as the Division Director for Post Legal Adoption Services, a role she created in 1963.

Marietta believed strongly, way before most professionals, in the importance of obtaining accurate and comprehensive background information about birth parents and their extended families.

She assisted Children’s Home, along with other child welfare agencies, to successfully lobby the state legislature in 1977 and 1982 to extend laws regulating information exchange among the adoption triad – the adopted person, adoptive parents, and birth parents. The landmark legislation enabled adoptees to obtain non-identifying information previously unavailable.

Marietta was also an active advocate for the use of accurate and positive adoption language. Often reminding all who would listen, that there are no “real parents,” but rather “birth parents” and “adoptive parents.”

Former Executive Director, Roger Toogood shared this after Marietta’s passing in 2017:

“Marietta Spencer has a brilliant mind and a strong focus on both the big picture and small details. She had a strong passion for her chosen field and gave tremendous time and effort to make the services of adoption, pregnancy counseling, and particularly post adoption the best that they could be.

 

As a result of her knowledge and expertise, she made an impact throughout the U.S. and abroad. She was a solid community citizen, a loving parent, and a loyal professional.”

Read More About CH/LSS History

Please note we do not have crisis services for emergency situations.

In the case of an emergency, please contact 911 or utilize crisis  services:

• Call or text 988
• (MN) Children’s Crisis Response
• (MN) Adult Crisis Response