Ampersand Families

06/17/2026

This month’s CASCW Connect features our very own Ampersand colleague, Amber Buer, Youth Services Program Director!!

Amber leads child-specific recruitment efforts centered on amplifying youth voice, helping young people build meaningful connections, and supporting pathways to permanency through relationships that honor their identity and culture. This Pride Month and beyond, her work reminds us that every young person deserves to feel seen, valued, and supported by caring adults who affirm exactly who they are.

Learn more about Amber and her impact here https://cascw.umn.edu/connect-us/cascw-connect

General Page Media Everything in the world of CASCW Welcome to CASCW Connect, the flagship bi-weekly newsletter of the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare at the University of Minnesota. CASCW Connect features the latest in child welfare practice, research, and policy news from Minnesota an...

06/01/2026

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH Y'ALL! We hope all folks celebrate by being their authentic selves & by being a strong ally!!

05/30/2026

🎉🥳 TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT! 🥳 🎉

The Empowered Gala is starting soon at Cinema Grill in New Hope!

Come on down to...
🍿 Grab a bag of popcorn while bidding on great Silent Auction Items
📽️ Catch the VIP Showing of our feature on Empowered by Meg Ryan
🎬️ Close the night with a great program and Ampersand Highlights!

Or bid on items from the comfort of your couch! Silent Auction:
https://ampersandfamilies.auctions.networkforgood.com/auctions/bridge-to-belonging-gala-silent-auction

05/29/2026

🎟️ 🎉 Grab Your Tickets! 🎉 🎟️

Tomorrow is the Empowered by Meg Ryan VIP Premier!

We're looking forward to celebrating this great evening, filled with games, food, fun, and maybe a little papparazzi?!?

If you haven't signed up yet, RSVP below or just come to Cinema Grill tomorrow at 5PM! Walk-ins Welcome!

RSVP Here:
https://ampersandfamilies.networkforgood.com/events/89832-2026-bridge-to-belonging-gala

05/27/2026

🎉 🚨 GOLD SPONSOR ALERT 🚨 🎉

A Big THANK YOU to our Gold Sponsor, Pharos Employee Benefits, for making this year's Empowered Gala THIS SATURDAY a success!

Pharos Employee Benefits has sponsored the Bridge to Belonging Gala since its inception, proud to support the mission: walking alongside older youth to find safe, permanent homes that uphold their culture and affirm their identity.

Thank you, Pharos, for being a key supporter of Ampersand Families and the community!

For more information and other sponsors, check out the gala homepage!
https://buff.ly/BllDTiD

05/23/2026

🚨🎉 RSVP Deadline 🎉🚨

We're just ONE WEEK away from the Empowered VIP Showing at our Gala this year, and we can't wait to see you all there!

There is still time to sign up and reserve your spot, and make sure to sign up by Monday, May 25th!

RSVP here!
https://buff.ly/9oAMNET

05/21/2026

Last month, our Ampersand team attended the 2026 CASCW Spring Conference, Meeting the Moment: Immigration and Child Welfare. One of the things we love most about gatherings like this is what comes back with us -ideas, tools, and practices that keep showing up long after the conference ends.

That was especially true for a resource shared with us by the Latinx Therapists Action Network (LTAN), whose Mindful Practices Guide was shared with us and quickly found its way into the Ampersand Families internal chat.

Centered in healing justice and collective care, it’s a resource they hope offers grounding and connection to others navigating heavy and complex work.

https://ltan.org/care-guide-practices/
Care Practices Guides - Latinx Therapists Action Network

These Care Practices Guides aim to support mental health and collective care to fortify communities and their leadership on the frontlines of liberation work in order to  endure through the most challenging times and for the long haul. These guides invite you to explore the intersections of trau...

05/20/2026

🎉 🚨 BRONZE SPONSOR ALERT 🚨 🎉

A Big THANK YOU to our Bronze Sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, for making this year's May 30th Empowered Gala a success!

Blue Cross is our returning Bronze Gala Sponsor for their second investment in Ampersand Families' mission, supporting older youth to find safe, permanent homes for youth. By investing in Fosters and family licensing, Ampersand and Blue Cross are working together to help young people avoid the adverse mental and physical health outcomes of entering adulthood unsupported.

Thank you, Blue Cross, for being a key supporter of Ampersand Families and the community!

For more information and other sponsors, check out the gala homepage!
https://buff.ly/BllDTiD

05/19/2026

🎬️ 🤩📽️ Come Meet the Stars! 📽️🤩🎬️

In just a few weeks, we'll be showing a VIP feature on Ampersand Families' Empowered highlight - starring Foster Advocates Director of Movement Building, Elena Leomi!

At Foster Advocates, Elena focuses on internal team structures, building capacity for leadership programs and research, and supporting the growth of Foster Advocates' statewide Foster network. Elena is also a key champion for the Minnesota Promise Report, which informs the work of Ampersand Families and other child welfare agencies across Minnesota.

Come to the Gala to hear how meeting Minnesota's Promise to Fosters for every young person in care is a key component to finding safe, permanent homes for older youth - and the generational impact our promise to Fosters can make.

More information here:
https://lnkd.in/e4mHEpBH

05/15/2026

🚨 📢 Silent Auction is Now OPEN! 📢🚨

Are you looking for creative sports memorabilia, finding an unforgettable experience touring a Minnesota winery, or lining up your next Hot Yoga?

Check out this year's Silent Auction and get your bidding ready, the auction starts today!
https://ampersandfamilies.auctions.networkforgood.com/auctions/bridge-to-belonging-gala-silent-auction

Interested in picking up your item right away? Join us at the Gala! Our Silent Auction will conclude at 6:30 PM on Saturday, May 30, right before the Gala program begins.