https://www.qpimn.org/calendar daily 0.75 2022-03-01 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2022/4/21/supporting-collaborative-birth-and-foster-parent-relationships-in-child-welfare monthly 0.5 2022-03-01 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2022/3/18/what-i-need-youth-presentation-on-fostering monthly 0.5 2022-03-01 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2022/3/23/strategies-for-youth-partnership-a-journey-to-success monthly 0.5 2022-03-01 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2022/3/17/leading-from-the-center-creating-youth-partnership-in-qpi monthly 0.5 2022-03-01 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2022/3/22/qpi-mn-steering-committee monthly 0.5 2022-02-04 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2022/2/17/qpi-101-fundamentals-and-core-principles-of-the-quality-parenting-initiative monthly 0.5 2022-02-04 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2021/5/13/qpi-mn-steering-committee-meeting-schedule-2021-via-zoom monthly 0.5 2021-02-22 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/nationalconference monthly 0.5 2021-02-22 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2021/6/1/june-is-reunification-month monthly 0.5 2021-02-22 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2021/9/16/qpi-mn-steering-committee-meeting-schedule-2021-via-zoom monthly 0.5 2021-02-22 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2021/11/18/qpi-mn-steering-committee-meeting-schedule-2021-via-zoom monthly 0.5 2021-02-22 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2020/5/13/2020-annual-icwa-conference-icwa-collaborations monthly 0.5 2020-03-04 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2020/4/16/understanding-social-media-use-for-teens-in-care-training monthly 0.5 2020-02-18 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2020/3/9/3rd-annual-foster-child-and-youth-day-on-the-hill monthly 0.5 2020-02-11 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2020/3/13/quality-parenting-initiative-mn-improving-childyouth-experience-through-caregiver-connections monthly 0.5 2020-02-11 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/11/16/kinship-caregiver-conference-and-resource-fair monthly 0.5 2019-11-11 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/11/16/-youth-mental-health-first-aid-course-in-anoka-free-training-for-foster-parents monthly 0.5 2019-10-28 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/10/22/qpi-mn-steering-committee-meeting monthly 0.5 2019-10-22 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/10/31/connections-action-work-group-meeting monthly 0.5 2019-10-22 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2020/5/27/qpi-national-conference monthly 0.5 2020-02-11 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/9/9/family-first-prevention-services-act-advisory-steering-committee monthly 0.5 2019-08-15 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/6/24/youth-voice-action-work-group monthly 0.5 2019-06-14 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/6/13/connections-awg-meeting monthly 0.5 2019-06-07 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/6/5/foster-parent-voice-action-work-group monthly 0.5 2019-05-28 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/5/22/scott-county-qpi-launch monthly 0.5 2019-05-20 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/8/16/umoja-mn-black-heritage-camp monthly 0.5 2019-05-20 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/6/14/umoja-mn-black-heritage-camp monthly 0.5 2019-05-20 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/5/22/webinar-becoming-a-trauma-informed-organization-to-meet-the-needs-of-child-welfare-clients monthly 0.5 2019-04-25 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/5/4/connections-to-independence-6th-annual-kentucky-derby-celebration-run-for-the-roses monthly 0.5 2019-04-09 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/10/8/find-foster-families-day-mn monthly 0.5 2019-03-25 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/10/5/2nd-annual-fostering-is-love-walk monthly 0.5 2019-03-25 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/4/18/2019-law-review-symposium-minnesotas-future-addressing-the-needs-of-vulnerable-youth monthly 0.5 2019-03-01 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/3/8/2nd-annual-foster-child-and-youth-day-on-the-hill monthly 0.5 2019-02-05 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/5/5/foster-care-amp-adoption-recruitment-eventnbsphosted-by-mn-adopt monthly 0.5 2019-04-12 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/4/29/national-qpi-conference monthly 0.5 2019-02-05 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/4/12/qpi-mn-steering-committee-meeting monthly 0.5 2019-02-05 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/2/5/get-ready-to-recognize-parent-leaders-event-for-national-parent-recognition-month monthly 0.5 2019-02-05 https://www.qpimn.org/calendar/2019/2/21/our-role-in-disproportionality-in-the-child-protection-system monthly 0.5 2019-01-28 https://www.qpimn.org/home daily 1.0 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1653675494761-ISQHYWRREM3Q81VR24KH/pexels-nappy-936119.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/c9f1ac57-071a-4a19-89f8-b3b12e485109/IMG_0585.jpeg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.qpimn.org/about-us daily 0.75 2024-11-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1653402073718-102SG6P7L2C58WR7VHCS/image-asset.jpeg About Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1562768052246-NN47P9CZ20JS63SKAPRK/blob About Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1732222726134-N6FJFFQLPQ6WK0AC0VK2/image-asset.jpeg About Us https://www.qpimn.org/priorities daily 0.75 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1550155743782-2IGMNP8SB3LU903Q5S6E/image-asset.jpeg Priorities Birth - Foster Family Connections Strengthened communication and relationship between caregivers (foster parents / relatives) and birth parents is key to the child/youth’s time in out of home placement. Research upholds reunification efforts and re-entry into out of home placement rates are improved by the lasting connections developed with the child and family. Read more about our priorities here: 1. Building the relationship between the birth parent and foster parent/kinship caregiver 2. Supporting the relationship between the birth parent and caregiver 3. Maintaining a strong relationship while working with the system and planning for reunification 4. Maintaining a strong relationship after the child has left the child welfare system https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/e8dba1a6-5274-4eae-ae43-9b54324bd12b/unsplash-image-AWidiBoRO08.jpg Priorities Youth Voice Join our Youth Voice Action Work Group! Your voice and experience matters. Here is Mya’s reason why she is invovled in QPI-MN: “I joined this group because I care about the youth and I want them to be as successful as possible. I don’t want to just talk about making a change I want to actually do it and get it done with the help of other youth like me and not like me”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1550156032526-7NJVW3QWPVF176YNR76P/image-asset.jpeg Priorities Kinship Staying connected to family is critical to healthy child development and a sense of belonging. QPI-MN is creating steps to assure kinship placements are more actively supported. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1550157022504-YZFKDRU6ARZ4WTJFNEBG/image-asset.jpeg Priorities Policy & Systems Change Ensuring advocacy efforts focus on improving outcomes for children/youth and families involved in foster care. Initial (Comfort) Call in MN https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1550157215449-URT0S39S1LUENEFPU71D/edited.jpg Priorities Racial Equity African and Native American families are overrepresented in the child welfare system within Minnesota, from initial assessment to permanency determinations. QPI-MN upholds the belief that leadership from our African and Native American youth and families is the key for change. Racial equity is about applying justice and a little bit of common sense to a system that’s been out of balance. When a system is out of balance, people of color feel the impacts most acutely, but, to be clear, an imbalanced system makes all of us pay. - Glenn Harris, President, Center for Social Inclusion https://www.qpimn.org/share-your-story daily 0.75 2019-07-10 https://www.qpimn.org/get-involved daily 0.75 2026-02-09 https://www.qpimn.org/qpi-local-and-national-news daily 0.75 2026-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1555099072150-W5YJD3C3NU9QFFAAXIN2/DSC_8457BW.jpg QPI Local & National News https://www.qpimn.org/history daily 0.75 2022-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1560370874438-XQN745O6DASVDC54Q4GP/5K3A9036.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1550068320337-5SW48S5GWDISV3N5B1U6/image-asset.jpeg History https://www.qpimn.org/eloise daily 0.75 2022-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1548703144290-SUXSTHL2ANPVCIHKC96N/eloise.jpg Eloise https://www.qpimn.org/contact daily 0.75 2022-03-04 https://www.qpimn.org/practice-guides daily 0.75 2022-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1562768052246-NN47P9CZ20JS63SKAPRK/blob Practice Guides A Guide to Circle of Support Meeting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1550157667314-MHVL0HVZAH9LCAXYREUE/image-asset.jpeg Practice Guides Circle of Support Meeting Template https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1550157960071-PINBRNXB0HMK2PYJKLGS/image-asset.jpeg Practice Guides A Guide to Comfort Calls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1550158032129-LKEQ5TXMKQQ3AL6BYJ1O/image-asset.jpeg Practice Guides Out of Home Placement Information https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1550158092794-GAR3WZ93L2UM87SFU6G7/image-asset.jpeg Practice Guides Initial Child/Youth Information Sharing Form https://www.qpimn.org/foster-and-kinship-family daily 0.75 2026-02-09 https://www.qpimn.org/youth daily 0.75 2025-08-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1648128244911-M630E82I0WN6WZYNLXR8/Youth+Voice+3.18.22.jpg Youth 2022 Youth Voice Leaders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/e32bd3e9-1420-442b-8443-1ceaff8f1822/IMG_1458.jpg Youth - Make it stand out 2025 Youth Leaders + Supportive Adults https://www.qpimn.org/professional daily 0.75 2025-04-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/9a9e6255-7252-496f-ad3b-5ca53d5adc65/4+Child-Centered+Strategies+Infographic+%281%29.jpg Professional - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.qpimn.org/birth-parent daily 0.75 2025-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1550069830431-S5XYVH9PLQ9ZN6CCZ4GB/image-asset.jpeg Birth Parent https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/322336cf-7862-446b-8546-4bf7fe67be47/Website+version+Birth+Parent+AWG+One-pager.jpg Birth Parent - Make it stand out Flyer inviting parents to join QPI-MN https://www.qpimn.org/the-wichners daily 0.75 2019-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1565815078247-6OV32WNHJMZLI8UVPV2C/Russ%2BDonna.jpg The Wichners Donna & Russ Wichner https://www.qpimn.org/initial/comfort-call-resources daily 0.75 2025-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/aca73ea6-76e5-452d-a44a-a988d72b150a/2025+MN+Initial+Contact+Survey+Summary+3.25.jpg Initial/Comfort Call Resources - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.qpimn.org/bfpp daily 0.75 2026-02-09 https://www.qpimn.org/mikala daily 0.75 2022-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1625165204249-JZH15PQ0N73BYM9DO87Y/Mikala+story+6.jpg Mikala's Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1625165703170-4RS9UAODQGVFT2LC4XKU/Mikala+story+3.jpg Mikala's Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1625165743697-U4Q5TFCNTUPP398L4W6K/Mikala+story+1.jpg Mikala's Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1625165781149-YTQSH7FV0RV6H4VONVT2/Mikala+story+4.jpg Mikala's Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.qpimn.org/contact-us daily 0.75 2026-01-16 https://www.qpimn.org/our-priorities daily 0.75 2026-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1664292478271-POK6JN2R4BVCQ81RSFK4/unsplash-image-_U_M_S-G5zE.jpg Priorities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/76cecf3b-bc25-46a3-9af9-8664a88a6507/image-asset+%282%29.jpeg Priorities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/430947bd-a50c-4a82-8019-9c6041a5a81d/Unashamed+2024+Youth.JPG Priorities - Youth Voice We as youth participate so that our voices and our experiences help foster homes become safer, healthier, and more loving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/c1434082-bfd3-4446-87de-10d0c61b6499/Working+with+Intention+Supporting+Native+Families.png Priorities - Racial Equity and Recognition of Tribal Sovereignty African and Native American families are overrepresented in the child welfare system within Minnesota, from initial assessment to permanency determinations. Leadership from our Indigenous and African American youth and families is required for change. Video: We Shall Remain ICWA/MIFPA Manual Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/370c4a4c-9efe-4f6d-894e-165646decb5c/image-asset.jpeg Priorities - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.qpimn.org/donate-mojave daily 0.75 2022-05-26 https://www.qpimn.org/qpi-home daily 0.75 2022-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/b27fd2b1-5980-415e-b5b3-f668d320b6a4/pexels-anastasia-shuraeva-7173478.jpg Home - Giving youth and caregivers a voice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1653403802702-ZYDGLWTMY1DK5RQN39PM/pexels-beatriz-fernandes-7134443.jpg Home - I am a birth parent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1653403828424-4GOVEN9XN4DD0ML5C1V4/pexels-yan-krukov-5792907.jpg Home - I am a foster or kinship parent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1653404912305-I5Z9173N4Y8TLW41KAGE/pexels-mikhail-nilov-8923074.jpg Home - I am a professional. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1653404370163-XPEO2GUNMTB2VLDW5X01/pexels-nappy-936119.jpg Home - I am a youth. https://www.qpimn.org/our-stories daily 0.75 2022-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1653579248635-D1NDDKM93LNSUQRDELG4/bell%2Bfamily.jpg OUR STORIES - The Bell Family https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1653672114114-JGFST2NZMQS03OMQD54A/eloise.jpg OUR STORIES - Eloise Story originally posted on St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development website. Learn more about St. David’s Center’s Foster Care Program at stdavidscenter.org/fostercare. Families in our foster care programs come together each year to celebrate with a picnic at Locke Park in Fridley, Minnesota. This year’s picnic was extra special because it was adoption day for Eloise. Eloise was placed into foster care at just seven months old and spent more than 665 days in placement. To this day, Justin and Ashley still don’t know what events led to her birth family losing custody or what life was like for her in those early days. They only know that her original foster home eventually had its license revoked, and when Eloise arrived at the Cassens’ at 14 months old, she couldn’t walk or talk and ate everything in sight. “She was ravenous,” remembered Ashley. “She would eat anything you put in front of her.” “It was like she didn’t know where her next meal was coming from,” Justin added. At that time, Ashley and Justin were new to the foster care system. Still, they had already seen the ways its children and families were falling through the cracks. “Our first placement was a 4-week-old infant,” Ashley said. “We had him for two months and then he was gone the next day. At that stage of development, that’s so hard on the baby.” Justin agreed. “It’s your job to keep them safe,” he said, “but then you have no control and no say. You can’t do your job.” Their second placement was different. That time they provided care for two of four siblings for about seven months. They kept a communication log with the birth mother and formed a close bond with her in caring for the children. “We were rooting really hard for her,” Ashley said. “You could see how much she and the kids loved each other.” Still, when the case was over, and it was time for reunification, Ashley and Justin were concerned. They knew their mother still needed more support, despite how much she loved her children. “Mom was not set up for success,” Ashley said. “There were no trial home visits. She only saw them one hour a week. She went from zero children to four children in one day.” The siblings ended up back in the system a few months later, returning to the Cassens’ care. This time it was a bit harder. They had to face the fact that mom might lose custody. Once again, news came that the children would be going to a new placement in less than 24 hours. “It was heart-wrenching. It’s so hard for the children. We say, ‘I love you’ all the time, and then they’re just gone.” Because of their experience, Ashley and Justin were eager to get involved with the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI), a statewide project co-led by St. David’s Center’s Senior Director of Treatment and Foster Care, Kate Rickord, MA, LP. In conjunction with ApsireMN, eleven private foster care agencies from throughout the state committed to bringing QPI to Minnesota in response to racial disparities and high rates of re-entry into the child protection system. The Cassens call their experience “enlightening.” “Before you start fostering, you assume you’re going to want every child in your home forever,” Ashley said. “But once you’re in it, your eyes are opened to how important the relationship [with the birth family] is.” Ashley and Justin have been active members on several QPI committees, including the Information Sharing Committee, to improve communication between birth and foster families, and the Transitions Committee, to ease transitions from one home to another so there is less heartbreak. “These issues are close to our hearts,” said Justin. “We’ve seen how hard it is for the child, for everyone involved. With our first placement, we were given just his birthdate and a name, and even that was wrong.” Ashley added, “QPI brings [the child] back into focus. People always say, ‘Oh, you do foster care. I bet you have some crazy stories.’ I hope that that stigma goes away, and it has a more positive effect on people.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1653579050617-HJ4EKJ6OA4CTE80WR1WJ/Mikala%2Bstory%2B6.jpg OUR STORIES - Mikala Mikala has an open, expansive presence; she speaks with an unflinching frankness that reveals the stark realities and emotion-laden events that led her to this point in her life. Three years ago, Mikala found herself in a dark place – physically, mentally, and emotionally – entrenched in a cycle of substance abuse and domestic violence that led to the removal of her children Aviannah and Ambria, then ages three and one, by Child Protective Services into out-of-home placement. “My rock bottom was my kids getting taken away from me,” she states soberly. “I was literally losing everything and hitting that rock bottom.” Leah and Kyle, parents to four biological children of their own, were relatively new to fostering, with one previous placement, when they got the call from Carole, a Carver County child protection social worker. Leah recalls, “[Carole said] ‘I have this amazing young woman and her kids need to come into care. She is so sad, and she's had a lot of really hard things happen in her life, but honestly, I think this is the hardest thing that she has ever gone through. Are you willing to meet her and have her kids come with you and stay with you?’” Ultimately, all of their lives intersected in a life-altering meeting in a parking lot. “That’s a hard day to think about without crying,” remembers Leah. “Bria was sleeping, and we transferred her in the car, and Avi [had her] eyes wide open, just staring. Now that I understand fight, flight or freeze, she was definitely in freeze mode.” For Mikala, the pain was unimaginable. “I remember I cried outside of the car so they wouldn't see me cry,” she says. “I got down on their level and I just explained to them, ‘You're going to go here for right now, but you're going to be really taken care of and you call mommy at any time.’ And everything was going to be OK.” In retrospect, Leah reflects, Carole’s kindness and compassion set the tone for the seeding of a positive relationship between Mikala and Leah and Kyle from the outset, with the children at its center. “It makes sense to start relationships early,” she affirms. “It felt so right for something that felt so wrong.” Mikala agrees, crediting this nascent relationship with allowing her to willingly release her children into the care of Leah and Kyle. “The moment I saw them, they reassured me that they were going to take really good care of my kids. And I just let them go because something was telling me my kids are in a good place.” Echoes Angie, a Carver County foster care social worker, “What you did in that parking lot that day and meeting each other is an example I have used time and time again because it is the prime example of what we want to see happen. It is the best when birthparent and foster parent can meet right away to establish that connection.” This was, according to Leah, very much a reciprocal relationship from the beginning, one that began in that bleak moment of transfer in the parking lot with Mikala making the decision to entrust Leah and Kyle with the girls’ care, followed by a willingness to allow the girls the freedom to form attachments with Leah and her family. “She let them love us,” she says simply. “That’s putting the girls first.” Says Lynn, a Carver County child protection social worker, “Attachment is a positive thing – it’s a positive for the girls to have other adults they can trust, and you (as a biological parent) can trust if you ever needed them.” “She let them love us,” she says simply. “That’s putting the girls first.” And while the girls were in care, Leah made sure that Mikala was an integral part of the girls’ lives, recording and sharing milestone moments with her. At a certain point, Leah suggested that Mikala start visiting the girls in their home - a natural progression of the relationship they had established, and one that was best for the girls. “The kids were just wanting to intertwine their lives,” states Leah. “Avi just got so much comfort when she saw Mikala and I talking. She loved that because our two worlds were coming together.” Adds Mikala, “We always work together. We were always on the same page.” These exchanges exemplified the notion that shared parenting supports reunification, which, according to Lynn, was always the goal. For Mikala, it was a hard-fought goal. “I didn't really know my self-worth; I didn't think I was worthy of anything. I struggled with believing I was a good mom because of what happened. My willingness to fight and just working with everyone – that’s what brought my kids home,” she asserts. “It’s just not giving up and just doing. I had to do so much from the time I woke up to the time I went to sleep. I was always doing something to bring those girls home, whether it was visits, supports groups, then treatment.” In the midst of it all, she also started college, with support from Leah. Despite the monumental struggle, Mikala, for her part, is “very grateful for this experience.” She elaborates, “When you are in the situation, you want to hide from everybody and I was forced to let it out because it was the only way I was going to get them back home. It was scary because it was up and down. They were at permanency and we discussed permanent options; I even had them tell me ‘You are not going to get your kids back. You exceeded your time.’ And I said, ‘I am going to get them back.’ And it happened.” Her hard work paid off. Now reunified with Aviannah and Ambria – and with the latest addition to the family, one-year-old Heaven Lee – Mikala is ready to share her story in the hope that it may help others see that successful, relationship-based non-relative placement can happen, with a “village” of support working together towards a common goal of reunification. Says Leah, “Mikala’s story is just so awesome and her willingness to want to help other people. Watching things go from the darkness into the light and how beautiful it is when you just own it – I'm just so happy that she's in a healthy enough spot to be wanting to share her story to help other people, because that's what we're here for, right? Our lives are not ours to live alone. And we love her girls.” Adds Mikala, “Complete strangers is how we got through this. Those are your kids, too.” To Mikala and her girls, Leah, Kyle, and their kids have evolved from complete strangers to an extension of family, due to a relationship and network of support that has continued post-reunification. As social worker Angie describes Leah and Kyle’s interaction with Mikala, “You still talk, you still see the kids, you still work together with those girls. It didn't stop. You have an ongoing relationship and that's another part of why the reunification is successful – because that support continues.” And according to Mikala’s daughter Aviannah, this continuing relationship is a natural part of her family story. “It’s fun when we go to Leah’s house with my mom,” she says. “We have fun.” “Be open to the relationships with the families... a little bit of ‘uncomfortable’ can lead to something really beautiful on the other side.” Now that the girls have been reunified with Mikala, Leah reflects on how the experience changed her, as well as offering some advice for other foster parents. “Be open to the relationships with the families,” she says. “I am more willing to be uncomfortable than I was before, and I understand that a little bit of ‘uncomfortable’ can lead to something really beautiful on the other side. I didn't realize how much you really champion for them, and the relationships that you make afterwards are just really neat. And that was a total gift.” Mikala’s parting words of advice to other parents struggling with out-of-home care carry the weight of one who has lived through the experience and made it successfully to the other side. “From my perspective, being the parent, I would just let them know that that everyone is here to help you and they're not against you. Remember to always think about the children, because this is where it all comes to play, and the huge priority is the children's safety and getting them home. Accept that you made a mistake - everyone does - but you just really have to think about your kids and what's best for them. And that's everyone being on the same page, getting along and coming together to bring them home.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1653579075614-9V4ZMJRNU8F674LU727V/Russ%2BDonna.jpg OUR STORIES - The Wichners EMBRACING QPI TO BENEFIT EVERYONE Donna and Russ Wichner live in the quiet rural town of Sandstone, Minnesota. They have chickens running around the coop outside, cows in the pasture and their dog, Oreo, barking a welcome as you pull in the dirt driveway. They have been foster parents for years, seeing many kids come through their doors. They provide care, healing and love for each of these children. Donna and Russ truly embrace the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) way, seeing a close partnership between them, caregivers and agency as making the best outcomes for children. They are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that children know that groups of caring adults gather around a child, and that it is not one person who lifts a child, but the village doing it together. Currently, Donna and Russ have a child that is being raised by their grandparent. Donna and grandparent have formed a close working relationship together. Donna and grandparent ride together to the child’s med appointment, go to school events together and even attend after school scouts together. Donna has opened her home for the grandparent to have supper with them, do craft nights with the other sibling of the child and provide a listening ear of support for grandparent as needed. Donna has also offered to be a respite provider for the child’s siblings for the children to spend time together and give grandparent a break for good self-care. Donna has a sweet nurturing way with children as Russ provides an excellent role model relationship to the ever-watchful eyes of their foster kids. They demonstrate how a loving and healthy home operates as well as how to be a teammate to caregivers and guardians. We are proud to have them champion QPI values and demonstrate an excellence in caregiving within our agency. https://www.qpimn.org/caseworker-resources daily 0.75 2025-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1662663599822-0FOCQR4B28SMEUWAIQ1C/unsplash-image-uo219k4ZzdA.jpg Caseworker Resources https://www.qpimn.org/noteworthy daily 0.75 2026-02-17 https://www.qpimn.org/elevate-celebrate-2022-receipient daily 0.75 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/1a9bdc4f-e94a-4fe7-a96b-818976b2ad9a/Carmella+Hines.jpg Carmella Hines Elevate & Celebrate 2022 Recipient Carmella Hines https://www.qpimn.org/youth-driven-advocacy daily 0.75 2025-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/430947bd-a50c-4a82-8019-9c6041a5a81d/Unashamed+2024+Youth.JPG Youth Driven Advocacy - Youth Driven Advocacy QPI-MN Youth Leaders recently created new printed resources for child welfare professionals and foster care providers. These handouts underscore the importance of trauma-informed care and maintaining healthy boundaries while advocating for youth's rights and empowerment. Importantly, hearing directly from lived-experience youth leaders ensures decisions are informed by those who truly understand the system's impact. QPI-MN offers valuable insights from lived-experience youth leaders, helping professionals implement these practices effectively. https://www.qpimn.org/privacy-policy-mojave daily 0.75 2025-05-09 https://www.qpimn.org/faq-mojave daily 0.75 2025-05-09 https://www.qpimn.org/terms-of-service-mojave daily 0.75 2025-05-09 https://www.qpimn.org/elevate-celebrate-2025-recipient-jessica-gunnarson daily 0.75 2025-12-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/3cd5c58e-25ad-47c3-8994-e9ebf154d8c5/2175654859917445395.JPG Elevate & Celebrate 2025 Recipient Jessica Gunnarson - Jessica Gunnarson - QPI 2025 Elevate & Celebrate Recipient “When I learned about QPI, everything clicked,” she said. “Kids feel safest when the adults in their lives communicate, partner, and prioritize relationships. We’re not supposed to do this alone, not caregivers, not parents, not social workers.” https://www.qpimn.org/transitions daily 0.75 2026-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/70f5b348-b09c-44db-ba5d-33230ae2f82c/MN+Transitions+Survey+2025+%282%29.png Transitions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4f369bb27e391407cabe68/efee5633-03cd-42c8-b7f4-85476f79f14b/Youth+Connection+Form++%282%29.png Transitions