Laura is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker who joined Ampersand Families as a Family-focused Permanency Specialist in July 2021. She graduated with a Master of Social Work in 2021 from the University of Minnesota as a Title IV-E Child Welfare scholar. During the MSW program, Laura completed internships working with student parents at the U of M and in child protection. Previous to social work, Laura has a background in child development and has worked with children and families in a variety of settings.
Laura is excited to join Ampersand in doing restorative work in the field of child welfare, preparing families to connect with youth in their forever homes. Improving the long-term outcomes of youth in the child welfare system is important to Laura, as is doing trauma-focused and anti-racist work that reduces inequities in the child welfare system as a whole.
Outside of Ampersand, Laura enjoys riding her bike around Minneapolis, reading, making music, and spending time in or near any body of water.
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The mission of Ampersand Families is to provide permanency and adoption services to older youth and families who face barriers to equity in child welfare, and to champion systemic changes that advance belonging, dignity and hope.
