Our Mission
& Vision

We exist to walk alongside

foster, kinship and adoptive families.

Our mission is to reduce stress and prevent burnout by providing relational and tangible support. We partner with the community to create opportunities for everyone to get involved. 

Our Why

We would like to come alongside resource parents to reduce stress and prevent burnout, so that they can focus on providing the best care for all the children in their home. 

Each year, 30% to 50% of foster parents make the decision to close their homes to children in foster care due to burnout, stress, and lack of training. This often happens after just one year of being a foster parent. The children in their home come from hard places and trauma, requiring additional levels of care and support.

However, we believe the community is simply unaware of the ways in which they can help. That's why we want to help find ways that make sense for each individual, family, business or church. As Jason Johnson says "Everyone can do something" and we want to help the community find their something. No matter what way you choose to help, you are making a difference.

15,297

children in out-of-home

care in Minnesota

454

children in out-of-home

care in Dakota County

267

licensed foster care homes

in Dakota County 

What Local Resource Parents Are Saying...

“I can't think of any instances that the general community supported me….”

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“No one seems to understand what we are going through.”

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“It would be really nice to have a community of people who understand our situation.”

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“Our church hasn’t gotten behind the heart we would hope they would have for foster kids and parents alike. We need our church to step up.”

“People are nosy about why the kids are in foster care, but really don't want to help.”

Our Team

Micayla Johnson

Board President, Founder

Micayla's heart and passion for the foster care and adoption communities has deepened through her own journey of becoming a foster mom. She believes that no one should feel alone in their experiences and is a mom on a mission to prevent that from happening. She is excited to come alongside and build relationships with others who open their homes and hearts to kiddos in our area.

Trent Lathrop

Board Treasurer

Since becoming a foster parent, Trent has seen firsthand the gaps in resources and support within the foster care system. He doesn’t see this as a negative but rather a positive opportunity for Foster Together MN to come alongside families to provide those needs and close that gap. Trent is driven by the chance to make fostering and adoption a joyful experience for each family.

Lindsey Konchar

Board Secretary

Lindsey became a social worker in 2019 with the intention of helping kiddos cope with life's hardships. She practices the person-in-environment perspective and believes everyone's individual, unique experiences matter most. Lindsey loves connecting people-to-people or people-to-resources, and she's here to walk alongside you through your fostering journey!   

Lori Geller

Board Member

Lori is passionate about caring for others and leading them to the help they need. She is a Certified Nurse Midwife by profession and a foster parent of multiple years. She has experienced the challenges of a broken system and desires strongly to connect with others to accompany them in their journey. Her goal isn’t to fix anyone or thing, but to love and care for them with all her abilities. She is excited to put her talents to work in this community.