Children's Home Adoption & Foster Care

05/11/2026

Join Us for a Free Webinar: The Belonging Need. Understanding Belonging to Help Children and Families Move from Surviving to Thriving

Tuesday, November 24 from 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Children who have experienced foster care, adoption, separation or loss often carry a deep need to know that they are seen, valued and truly belong. In this engaging and inspiring webinar, Gaelin Elmore shares how belonging is a fundamental human need that shapes sense of self, resilience, relationships and overall well-being. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal lived experience in foster care, Gaelin explores how caregivers can intentionally create environments where children feel connected, accepted and secure.

👉Learn more and register: chlss.org/event/webinar-the-belonging-need

04/11/2026

We’re Dan, Nicole and Theadore (our very spoiled dog), an active East Central Minnesota couple with a love for adventure and making memories together. We dream of seeing the world through the eyes of a child and creating a home filled with unconditional love, laughter, curiosity, and belonging through adoption. We are incredibly blessed to have close relationships with both of our families and a wonderful circle of friends who are excited to welcome another child into their lives.

Fun fact about us: We have a huge vegetable garden and a mini apple orchard! Spending time in the garden is one of our favorite hobbies. We love harvesting fresh produce, preserving it for the winter, and look forward to one day sharing those experiences with a child.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] or to our contact number 612-314-6473.

04/11/2026

Later this month 🌻

Join Bellis Executive Director, Kelly Tronstad, at a webinar hosted by Children's Home Lutheran Social Services. Our presentation is titled What Birth Parents Wish Adoptive Parents Knew.

📅 Wednesday, November 18, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM CT
💻 Hosted online by CHLSS
🎟️ Free to attend

In the foster care and adoption community, the voices of adoptees and adoptive parents are often at the center of the conversation. Our presentation shifts that focus to the lived experiences of birth parents (people whose children are parented by others - for any reason). Attendees will hear an honest and thought-provoking conversation exploring their perspectives and ways to cultivate greater understanding, empathy, and connection.

👉 Register today: https://chlss.org/event/what-birth-parents-wish-adoptive-parents-knew/?

03/11/2026

Join us for a FREE Foster Care & Adoption Information Fair on November 14 from 9:30 AM - 12 PM at the Children's Home Office in Saint Paul, MN!

Meet staff and families from a variety of foster care and adoption programs, explore resources, ask questions and attend an informational session designed for prospective foster and adoptive parents. All are welcome.

Learn more: bit.ly/FosterCareandAdoptionFair

02/11/2026

Every November we celebrate National Adoption Month. It’s a special time of year for adoptees, birth families, adoptive families, and adoption professionals to take some time to celebrate adoption and adoptees, educate ourselves about topics surrounding adoption (including mental health, grief, and loss), and reflect on adoption practices and their lifelong effects on adoptees and their families. For more resources about National Adoption Month, visit our website at chlss.org/nationaladoptionmonth

31/10/2026

30/10/2026

Meet Ari! 💜

“Ariyah deserves the chance to be a kid and to have the opportunity to have all her needs met in a safe and nurturing environment,” says Michelle, her child specific recruiter. “She wants a forever family that will protect and love her unconditionally.”

Family is incredibly important to Ari, and she hopes to stay connected with her sisters who live in the metro area. She loves getting her hair and nails done, listening to music and TikTok, baking, movie nights, going out to eat, and spending time with little kids. Ari is also a fan of both cats and dogs and would enjoy a home with pets.

A family for Ari should be able to support her connections, celebrate her interests, and provide love, stability, and belonging.

Read more about Ari and watch her Reel Hope video at bit.ly/MeetAriyah.

29/10/2026

Not all sibling conflict is simply "kids being kids." For children who have experienced adoption, foster care, or loss, disagreements can be connected to deeper feelings and unmet needs.

Discover practical strategies to support sibling relationships and reduce conflict. Read more at chlss.org/blog.

Originally published by

28/10/2026

Hello! We are Nikko and Alex. We have been married for almost five years and have been together as a couple for almost 10! We live in a quiet and cozy community near the southwest metro. We have three rescue cats named Appa, Momo and Courage. We both currently work as social workers for a nonprofit agency. When we are not working, you will usually find us relaxing at home, going to cultural events and celebrations, spending time with family and friends or traveling around the world. Other shared hobbies include hiking, video games, going to concerts and trying new foods and restaurants.

Having children has been a shared goal of ours since the beginning of our relationship and we have built our life purposefully towards this goal. We strive to foster an environment of open communication, empathy, cultural awareness and advocacy and a balanced life. We are excited to continue on the journey to adoption.

If you would like to contact Nikko and Alex feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]
or visit our page at https://www.facebook.com/people/Nikko-Alex-Adoption-Journey/61557033114443/

27/10/2026

✨ Experience culture, heritage and connection with Tour Korea ✨
Tour Korea offers a unique birthland travel experience for adoptees and their loved ones. We welcome participants from across the United States, regardless of placing agency.

👉Learn more about joining us for the trip of a lifetime during the summer of 2027: chlss.org/tourkorea.