Mission Statement
Ampersand Families walks alongside youth, families, and communities who have been impacted by the child welfare system with a commitment to build and restore meaningful relationships while centering and upholding a youth’s whole identity.
Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
2,298 Relatives & Kin were identified for 91 youth through intensive relative and kin searches for placement. 50 Youth were supported with Child Specific Recruitment. 22 New youth were supported this year. 7 Child Specific Recruitment Cases placed in a safe, permanent home, with 71% placed with a Relative or Kin. 104 Minnesota Youth Voice (MYVoice) Youth Leadership program participants attended virtual hangouts, helped plan events for their peers, and practiced reading or art in its programs. 60 Youth photo shoots completed for the Minnesota Heart Gallery, helping them feel confident about themselves and helping them find safe, permanent homes. 29 NMT assessments & consultations completed to assist youth with trauma from out-of-home placement succeed. 64 Families were supported in applying for adoption or foster care licensure, with 80% of families pursuing placement for a relative or kin. 30 Youth placed in safe, permanent homes with trained & licensed families, with 77% of placements being with a Relative or Kin.
Current Goals
After completing our strategic planning process in 2025, programmatic goals include youth work that is focused on centering the whole youth and a focus on keeping youth connected to relative and kin connections when possible. We will achieve these goal by enhancing our current programming and partnering to be more innovative in our work with youth and families impacted by the child welfare system.
Community or Constituency Served
Minnesota's most vulnerable and hardest-to-place foster youth and the families that care about them.
Geographic Area Served
We serve the state of Minnesota.
