Power of Story is limited in its services to individuals, but we do offer workshops and the resources below to help adoptees, foster youth, and their families gather, compile and process their story and bring meaning to their history.
Lifebooks – A Tool for Foster and Adopted Children
The ultimate resource for FREE downloadable, lifebook templates, recommended versions to purchase and guides for parents and workers on creating lifestory books.
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Lifebook: Your life is more than a file.
Teens and young adults in MN foster care, if you don’t have photos of you and family, medical information and a list of placements, check out Lifebooks.
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How to Share The HARD Stories – Tough Stuff Plan
Each birth, foster or adoptive family has challenging items in their child’s history. Use this resource to make a thoughtful plan for impactful conversations.
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Our Doors are OPEN For Minnesota
We are pleased to announce the signing of a MN host/lead county contract, which enables us to complete life history work directly with youth throughout Minnesota.
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Social Medical History for Youth in Foster Care
Minnesota requires this comprehensive document for children and youth in out of home care. Learn more, see an example, view relevant statues and laws.
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Podcasts, Videos, Interviews and More
Listen in as we dream of a world in which everyone has the same person-centered access to their own personal history, stories, and medical information.
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Foster Care Record Retention State by State
Having access to your personal information is a basic human right, however, foster care records are not forever. See the laws that govern retention and destruction.
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Adoption and Foster Care DNA and Search Services
When information is missing or is just not enough, check out these free DNA tests for adoptees, foster youth search services and DNA based search organizations.
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Child Welfare Staff Workshop: Capturing the Essence of Youths’ Stories
Best practice, research, and good social work come together in this interactive and data-driven Lifebook training for permanency and child protection staff.
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Foster and Adoptive Parent Workshop: Practical Tips to Preserve Kids’ History
Experience this interactive, transformational, hands-on Lifebook workshop for foster and adoptive parents to help children understand their history and stories.
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Ways for First Parents Share History with Their Child
The best options for first parents to share their story with the child, by writing a letter, completing a Medical History, guided journal, video or memory book.
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Power of Story is the FIRST MN Child Caring-Placing Agency Founded in 10 years!
Rule 4 status has been granted to Power of Story! We complete lifebooks, social medical histories and workshops in tandem with local agencies and organizations.
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Advice to Foster Youth Who Want to Request Their File
Advice, cautionary tales, real encouragement and things to consider for care experienced young people, from a 2022 survey for current and former foster youth.
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Is Getting Your Foster Care File a “Want” or a “Need”?
Is foster youth having access to their “file,” medical history, birth parent info, placement history and sibling details NECESSARY, a need or just nice to have?
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Foster Youth Speak About Getting Their “File”
Over redaction, lost and sealed records, incomplete, hurtful, and false information. Foster youth share about requesting their foster care file and give advice to other youth.
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Book Recommendation: Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child
Have you read “Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child”? Foster and adoptive parents get comfortable talking truthfully about a Childs past and story.
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Foster Youth’s Medical Information and Stories State By State
Each state varies in the documentation of foster youth’s medical info, social history and life stories. To work together, we must understand these differences.
Keep readingCheck out this guidance on lifestory work, for everyone involved in child welfare, through templates, lifebook tips, workshops, and book recommendations.
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