East Metro Family Village

 

Location

Registration

Facilitator

Dates

FAQs

 

Location

The East Metro Village will meet on the 1st Thursday of the month from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at:

St. Paul Reformation Lutheran Church
100 North Oxford Street
St. Paul, MN 55104
Link to Google maps

 

Registration

Pre-registration is required and registration is limited to ensure adequate staffing for our youth programming.

Registration is free for families who have adopted Minnesota Waiting Children. For all other families, registration is $10 per child, per Village (we do not charge for adult attendance). If you are unsure whether you have adopted a Minnesota Waiting Child, or would like more information about our fees, click here.

You may register online using our secure server, by coming to our offices in person, or by mailing a registration form (PDF or Word).

 

Facilitators

Diane Martin-Hushman and John Hushman

Diane Martin-Hushman is the Parent Group Coordinator at NACAC. Her years of advocacy experience are both professional and personal. Diane and John are the adoptive parents of six young adults and have been kinship parenst to a grandchild. All of the adoptions were through the child welfare system. Diane and John have adopted a sibling group of three, older children, foster to adopt, special needs, and transracially. They were also foster parents for fifteen years and have been licensed in three different states.

 

Dates

• October 2nd
• November 6th
• December 4th
• Additional spring dates TBA

 

 

 

FAQs

• Where do I enter St. Paul Reformation?

The door we will be using is on the northwest corner of the building, facing west, closest to the Laurel and Oxford intersection. Usually the door will be propped open, but in colder weather it may be shut.

• What if I arrive late?

Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early. You will need that time to sign in, bring children to child care, and get settled in the parent group. We will make every effort to start on time. If you arrive after the groups have started, please enter quietly, bring children to child care, and join the parent group.

 

• Why am I on the waiting list?

For the most part, we have a first-come, first-served system. However, because of our funding through the Minnesota Department of Human Services, we reserve slots in all Harambee programs for families of children adopted from Minnesota’s foster care system

 

• Who are the adults working with the youth?

Our Youth Mentors have a wide variety of professional backgrounds including education, mental health and advocacy. In addition, some of our Youth Mentors are adult adoptees or adoptive parents. NACAC runs background checks on all youth mentors.

 

If you have any questions, contact program assistant Aubrey Haddican at HarambeeVillage@nacac.org