Minnesota

Haley Kuehl spent 6 years in Minnesota's foster care system. Haley Kuehl has learned the importance of standing up for what you believe in, and not backing down. This determination to be heard has made all the difference for her, and for many other foster youth who have benefited from... Read more

The youngest of three, Ashley went into the Minnesota foster care system at the age of eight years old when her mother was incarcerated. Her time in the system was made even more challenging when she was separated from her two siblings as they went from foster home to foster... Read more

Christa, of Minnesota, was nine years old, on Christmas Eve, when she and her sister were torn away from their mother and taken to a home for children. In four different placements in 6 months, they finally got a kinship placement with their grandmother that lasted one year and a... Read more

Tonya Bauer spent 18 years in Minnesota’s foster care system. Entering foster care once is a traumatic experience - imagine entering the foster care system twice, as Tonya did. Although she was faced with many challenges, Tonya has made the decisions in life to be a successful youth and never... Read more

Wilner Twedt spent 5 years in Minnesota's Foster Care System Wilner Twedt serves as a leader in his community in many areas despite still being in high school. He currently serves as editor and writer for his school paper and yearbook, and is involved in football and baseball where he... Read more

Liz Kulp spent 14 months in Minnesota's Foster Care System. Like many young people that enter to foster care system at birth (and about 1% of all children^), Liz was born with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). FASD describes a class of permanent birth defects caused by maternal consumption... Read more

Christina Dumais spent 5 years in Minnesota's Foster Care System Eighteen-year-old Christina Dumais is still in high school, but possess the determination of someone much older. Christina serves meals to seniors three days a week and is a member of the Student Council at her High School. Even though she... Read more

Cory Boldon spent 3 years in Minnesota's Foster Care System. When Cory was placed with the Boldon family at age 11, it was her seventh placement—this included two failed adoptions and the threat that if she “failed” in her adoption with the Boldons, she would be sent to a home... Read more

Kayla VanDyke spent 9 years in Minnesota's foster care system. Kayla entered into foster care when she was four years old. She went back to live with her birth family three years later before reentering care at age thirteen. Kayla has lived in seven different foster homes and attended ten... Read more

After entering foster care at age 14, Jennifer was moved to several different placements, eventually becoming separated from both of her siblings. She says, "The most difficult challenge I faced upon being put in foster care would have to be sibling separation. I didn't always get along with my siblings,... Read more