Events

Youth-led event open to Minnesota young people ages 12-22 who have lived experience in the foster care and/or adoption systems! More information, including how to RSVP, can be found on the MYVoice website.

 Join us for the kick-off of Minnesota’s Adoption Awareness Month, honoring families who have grown through adoption and kinship care. This is a free celebration and recruitment event. Fun for all ages!  Families should register here by October 23, Circus of the Heart 2025 - Foster Adopt Minnesota . 

For all Ampersand-affiliated adoptive, pre-adoptive, and kinship caregivers. Caregivers are invited to share their experiences and get support from other caregivers while youth participate in an activity supervised by Ampersand Families staff. Dinner is provided for all. Invites go out approximately 2 weeks before the event. Please RSVP to alex.caballero-castillo@ampersandfamilies.org. Virtual link is available uponContinue Reading

For all Ampersand-affiliated adoptive, pre-adoptive, and kinship caregivers. Caregivers are invited to share their experiences and get support from other caregivers while youth participate in an activity supervised by Ampersand Families staff. Dinner is provided for all. Invites go out approximately 2 weeks before the event. Please RSVP to alex.caballero-castillo@ampersandfamilies.org. Virtual link is available uponContinue Reading

This required training will focus on how to support and affirm a youth who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, or another identity in the LGBTQ+ community in an adoptive, pre-adoptive, or relative/kinship home. This training will also include strategies to implement in your home to create a welcoming and inclusive space regardlessContinue Reading

This training acknowledges the complexities associated with Relative/Kinship caregiving through fostering and adoption. Topics will include divided loyalties, redefining roles and relationships, setting boundaries with parents and other relatives, the range of emotions caregivers can feel and how children who have experienced trauma, separation, or loss can impact a caregiver’s own well-being. Strategies for howContinue Reading

All Ampersand-affiliated families who have a foster or adoptive youth in their home are invited to attend our Winter Family Retreat at Great Wolf Lodge! All eligible families will receive a direct invite with a link to RSVP, and the RSVP link will also be in the general family newsletter. Current RSVP is for theContinue Reading