-
Flexible Schedule
|
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Be a Buddy Family Do you want to make a difference in the life of a youth but can’t make the commitment to adopt right now? Are you thinking about becoming an adoptive family some day, but want to first learn as much as possible about what a family built through older youth adoption looks like? Maybe you have a lot of respect for people who adopt and wonder how you can help them in a very concrete way? Take a look at becoming an Ampersand Families buddy family. Buddy Families, * Build a personal relationship with one specific set of parents and youth. * Spend a couple evenings and one weekend a month with the youth, so that everyone can have a break from the intense work of family building. * Help with occasional transportation. * Provide a listening ear, and maybe a cup of coffee, to parents when times get tough. * Occasional activities together as families. * Buddy families help adoptive parents feel community support as they do the work of parenting a youth who has experienced trauma. Next Buddy Family Training is May 8th, 2019 from 6-9pm. For more information or to sign up for an upcoming buddy family training, please contact Renee at Ampersand Families, renee@ampersandfamiles.org.
Date Posted: Feb 23, 2022
-
Flexible Schedule
|
Saint Paul, MN 55114
We are looking for talented photographers anywhere in Minnesota to volunteer with the Minnesota Heart Gallery. The Minnesota Heart Gallery provides children and youth awaiting adoptive families in Minnesota the chance to see themselves as they never have before, and invites the community to learn more about the right of every child to a permanent family. The Heart Gallery provides a free, professional portrait session to youth in the foster care system with a photographer in their area. The pictures from these sessions are used in the youth’s adoption recruitment materials and we also use the images to raise awareness about the need for permanent families for older kids - literally putting a face to the need. This can be a one-time gig or a few sessions a year, whatever works best for you. Volunteering entails a session with the youth (you coordinate the time and date, along with location, with the youth’s adoption recruiter or social worker) and then post-session, provide a disk or Dropbox folder of images. Visit the online gallery at www.minnesotaheartgallery.org. Minnesota Heart Gallery recognizes the overrepresentation of BIPOC youth in the foster care system. As a result, the majority of youth who participate in the Heart Gallery are youth of color. We recognize the importance of youth of color seeing adults who look like them in various aspects of life. Minnesota Heart Gallery is committed to working and collaborating with more BIPOC photographers to help contribute to this representation. We also prioritize BIPOC photographer whenever paid opportunities come up. If you are interested in participating in this, please contact our Heart Gallery Coordinator at teiana@ampersandfamilies.org Thank you and we look forward to sharing more with you about this awesome volunteer opportunity!
Date Posted: Feb 2, 2022
-
Flexible Schedule
|
Roseville, MN 55113
Be a Buddy Family for an adoptive family Do you want to make a difference in the life of a youth but can’t make the commitment to adopt right now? Are you thinking about becoming an adoptive family some day, but want to first learn as much as possible about what a family built through older youth adoption looks like? Maybe you have a lot of respect for people who adopt and wonder how you can help them in a very concrete way? Take a look at becoming an Ampersand Families buddy family. Buddy Families, * Build a personal relationship with one specific set of parents and youth. * Spend a couple evenings and one weekend a month with the youth, so that everyone can have a break from the intense work of family building. * Help with occasional transportation. * Provide a listening ear, and maybe a cup of coffee, to parents when times get tough. * Occasional activities together as families. * Buddy families help adoptive parents feel community support as they do the work of parenting a youth who has experienced trauma. For more information or to sign up for an upcoming buddy family training, please contact Sami at Ampersand Families, sami@ampersandfamiles.org.
Date Posted: Feb 23, 2022
-
Flexible Schedule
|
Roseville, MN 55113
Ampersand Families is seeking board members who believe that all children and teens have the right to connections to relatives, kin, community and culture - even if their parent/s are struggling to safely care for them. You are a good fit for our board if you are a brave truth-teller who cares about the youth and families who are least likely to receive equitable services and outcomes from Minnesota's child welfare system - older youth, sibling sets, youth/families of color and GLBT youth are who we mostly serve. Board members are expected to attend meetings, participate in committee work and to support the agency's fundraising efforts. Time commitment is about 3 hours a month. Board terms are two years, with the possibility of up to 3 consecutive terms (6 years total). Ampersand Families is currently recruiting board members with expertise in marketing, public policy, database design, fundraising, and personnel or family law. In order to better represent the youth and families we serve, we are especially seeking board candidates with these skill sets who are also people of color or indigenous, LGBTQ-identified, and/or who live outside of the seven county metro area. Persons with personal and/or professional experience with any aspect of the child welfare system are also encouraged to explore membership.
Date Posted: Feb 23, 2022
