All published pages and posts from Power of Story. Use menu to learn more about Power of Story.
MN Fosters
This is a place for those who have spent time in foster care in Minnesota, and want to learn more about the time in care, and what information there is about them and their journey. If that is you, you are in the right place. Welcome. Below are some thing you might find helpful, but…
Other Ways To Give
Make EVERY Story Count | Gift A Personalized Lifebook | Cash app YOUR DONATION IS ALWAYS TAX DEDUCTIBLE, 501c3, MN Nonprofit, EIN 87-3175299 Snapshot of our finances. Send Us a Check POWER OF STORY, 110 E 31St Street #8377, MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota 55408 Life History Champion Create your OWN fundraising page for Power of Story, set…
Lifebooks’ Create Personal Archives for Young People in Out-of-Home Care
Imprint News and the Sahan Journal Article, featuring the importance of Lifebooks, and the work of Power of Story.
Life History Consulting
Power of Story is dedicated to ensuring that every young person in out-of-home care has access to their life history information and a voice in telling their own story. We offer unique and taylor made ways for organizations and systems to listen to young people to bring about real change, including the integration of social-emotional learning…
Life History Consult
Power of Story engages young people, care-takers and professionals in the research and curation of life histories, including Social Medical Histories
How Did We Do?
If you had a life history done about your life, helped answer questions for a young person, or participated in a training, click on the picture that best shows how you worked with us to share your thoughts. *General Feedback can be shared by contacting us. Thank you for making us better! You Got A…
Social Medical Histories
Power of Story engages young people, care-takers and professionals in the research and curation of life histories, including Social Medical Histories
Lifebooks
Power of Story engages young people, care-takers and professionals in the research and curation of life histories, including Lifebooks.
Lifebooks A Powerful Tool
The ultimate resource for FREE downloadable, lifebook templates, recommended versions to purchase and guides for parents and workers on creating lifestory books.
Tough Stuff Plan for Sharing The Hard Stories
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.
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.
Host a Fundraising House Party
Through our house parties, we build community, share the impact of Power of Story and invite those in attendance to support our work financially.
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.
State By State: Foster Care File Retention
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.
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.
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.
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.
Power of Story Press Kit
Current news and updates about a MN based nonprofit that completes lifebooks, social medical histories and workshops with local counties and organizations.
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy describes our policies and procedures on the collection, use and disclosure of your information when you use the service and tells you about your privacy rights and how the law protects you.
Conversation Guide for Parents
A tool to help parents be a healing and confident voice in their child’s life, through an age appropriate, first of its kind, trauma informed, empowering guide.
Contact
We’d love to hear from you, please reach out via email, social media or this contact form.
Advice to Fosters 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.
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?
Sharable Quotes
Sharable quotes about the Power of Story for foster youth and adoptees. Check out our menu to learn more about us!
Fosters 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.
State By State: Fosters Information
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.
Training
Information is just the beginning. Join the discussion. Workshops for Foster Youth and Adoptees, Adoptive and Foster Parents and Social Workers.
Share
Parents and professionals have pieces of key information and stories, to share about the young person they know. Please take a minute to share what you know.
Share Your Wisdom
Surveys, whose answers have the power to change hearts, open minds and elevate the Power of Story. Please add your wisdom to the chorus.
Employment
Partner with Minnesota nonprofit focused on giving foster youth and adoptees back their stories, view current opportunities for employment.
What does the Research Show?
We believe knowing your personal history and information is vital to healthy development for foster and adopted youth, but don’t just take our word on it.
Our Story
Meet the staff, volunteers and board members of Power of Story.
Our Model
We do social medical histories and lifebooks, because all people deserve access to their own life history, this is our groundbreaking and inclusive model.
Services
We contract with counties and organizations to provide high-quality social medical histories, lifebooks and workshops that promote the power of history.
Life History Resources
Check out this guidance on lifestory work, for everyone involved in child welfare, through templates, lifebook tips, workshops, and book recommendations.
Power of Story
We provide high-quality lifebook and social medical histories for foster youth and adoptees, and host workshops championing the power of their stories.
Power of Story 