Staff

Title: Executive Director since 1984

                                                 
Background: Joan is a licensed clinical social worker with forty years of experience as a trainer, consultant, writer and educator in a variety of child welfare settings. Joan was born and raised on a farm in southern Minnesota with her parents and 6 siblings. She credits her strong work ethic and love of gardening to these years on the family farm.  She is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict and the University of Minnesota where she earned her Master of Social Work degree.

Her greatest love is spending quality time with her two sons and their wives and children. Joan enjoys traveling and exploring other cultures. She has broadened her professional perspective and collaborative focus by visiting foster care organizations and orphanages in Russia, China, Japan, South Africa, Poland, Lithuania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Joan has been recognized as a leader in the field child welfare, having held many national and local leadership positions. She has received the Benedictine Service Award from the College of St. Benedict, the Morris Hirsch Award from the Minnesota Social Service Association, 100 Points of Light Award from the University of Minnesota, Leadership Award from the School of Social Work and Social Worker of the Year Award from the Minnesota Chapter of NASW. Joan believes we have no greater responsibility than to our most vulnerable children.

Job Description: Joan is responsible to the Board of Directors for the ongoing operations of the program and administrative aspects of the agency.  She exercises ultimate responsibility for all agency personnel,  provides leadership, support and financial management to the Board and to agency staff.  She also participates in professional and community organizations relating to child welfare services.

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Title: Recruitment Manager since 1994

Background: Phil grew up in New York, the big apple and moved to the Midwest to earn his Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota. He loves basketball and baseball and his favorite color is blue. Phil is a private guy who loves working with people, and has a talent for providing positive leadership with adolescent males.

 

Job Description: He spends much of his time and work with Family Alternatives, recruiting new foster parents, training and educating the community and serving as an advocate for children living in foster care. He serves on the agency leadership team and also conducts home studies and licensing support services to foster families and the children placed in their homes. Phil received the Social Worker of the year award from NASW in 2008.

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Title: Account Specialist since 1988

Background: Diane was born and raised in Minneapolis and enjoys reading , crocheting and knitting and drawing. She loves spending time at home and surrounds herself with family including her nieces’ twins.

Job Description: Diane coordinates and maintains paperwork for all the foster care payments and invoices and other accounting and billing responsibilities.

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Title: Social Worker since 2001

Background: Barb grew up in St. Paul and graduated from the University of St. Thomas. Barb and her husband are  foster and adoptive parents and have 8 children. Barb loves to ride horses and spend time with her family,  on their hobby farm just north of the twin cities.

Job Description: Barb is a social worker who coordinates licensing, placement, and supervision responsibilities for families. Barb coordinates and facilitates training for foster parents and staff related to learning and developmental disabilities and is a strong advocate in this area of her work at Family Alternatives. She works with youth through the Children's Therapeutic Services and Support (one on one work with children), and is active in the teen support services and programming.

 

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Title: Clinical Programs Coordinator since 2002

Background: Carole was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois with her 2 brothers and 1 sister. She has her bachelor’s degree in Special Education and her Master’s in School Psychology and later graduated with an EdS degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Carole has an innate ability to see the greatness within all individuals and brings this gift to her work with youth, family and staff at Family Alternatives. Her passion is driven by her desire to see people grow and develop.

Job Description: Carole participates on the Family Alternatives Leadership team and coordinates and oversees all mental health support services provided to youth and families. She coordinates staff training and supervises the CTSS and EEE programs. Carole also facilitates training for foster families on child development and trauma informed practice.

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Title: Supervising Social Worker since 1985

Background: Faith graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Psychology and went on to earn her Masters of Social Work from the College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas. Faith believes all kids and families have the ability to succeed despite all odds. She continues to learn and grow professionally and is committed to staying current on research about the effects of trauma on brain development and attachment as well as direct practice methods. She is dedicated to improving the experiences of children, families as well as the foster care system for all involved.

Job Description: Faith spends the majority of her time providing direct supportive services to foster families and youth on her caseload and clinical resource support to staff.  She also supervises staff and interns and participates on the agency leadership team. Faith sees kids at promise in a world that has put them at risk by ignoring and marginalizing them despite their vulnerability. Everyone needs a circle of supportive, effective, active and caring people to nurture and guide them;  who can be counted on and will count on them as well. It’s Faith’s dream that all those who read this will be moved to become one of those people in the life of a child who has been affected by foster care

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Title: Social Worker since 1999

Background: Marilyn was born and raised in Des Moines Iowa. She graduated from Augsburg College with her B.S. degree in the Social Work program. She enjoys staying active and plays intercollegiate Basketball and other twin cities athletics. Marilyn values working with families and seeing relationships grow and prosper. My biggest highlight is watching kids she works with graduate and pursue their dreams.

Job Description: Marilyn is a social worker who coordinates licensing, placement, and supervision responsibilities for families. She believes building strong relationships with the youth and families on her caseload is key to her work.

 

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Katie  Laird LSW
Title: Social Worker since 2010

 

 

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