Adoption Minnesota is a joint program of the independent Adoption Resource Center and Wellspring Adoption Agency. Since 1989, Adoption Minnesota has been helping birth parents and adoptive parents find each other and plan their adoptions. Over the years, more than 1200 children have found adoptive homes through our program. Our web site is an online resource to help you find more information about adoption and make the adoption process as easy as possible for everyone involved.

Of course, you are always invited to visit us in person! We are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a historic building located on the Mississippi River. Originally built in 1885 as offices for the milling companies that flourished along the river front, the buildings were renovated and linked together by a three story atrium in the 1980s. Our offices include comfortably furnished adoptive family and birth parent meeting rooms. We also have a conference room, reception area and large work space where phones are ringing all the time! We provide a library of adoption books and videos for our clients. We even have toys for all the kids who visit with their parents! It is a friendly, inviting space we enjoy sharing with our birth and adoptive families.

Leadership

Bob Vincent, Executive Director
Bob is a graduate of Yale University and has a Master's Degree from the State University of New York. He has been running non-profit corporations for over 30 years and has been Executive Director of both iARC and Wellspring since they began. His personal commitment to adoption comes from being the adoptive father of two children, David and Lara. They are both grown and have children of their own, so he is also the grandfather of four little girls!

"Adoption has created deeply satisfying personal and professional lives for me. Adoption is truly one of the greatest expressions of love one person can provide to another."

Adoptive Parent Counselors

Joan Lally, Supervisor of Social Services
Joan is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia. She has been practicing in the area of social work and psychology for over 17 years and brings a wealth of valuable experience to our program.

"Although I don't work directly with clients, I find the area of adoption to be both interesting and stimulating. There is nothing more rewarding than helping create families!"

Lynn Ricchio, Associate Director, Associate Supervisor of Social Services

Lynn is a licensed social worker who was adopted herself as an infant. She worked with birth parents for eleven years before switching to work with adoptive families.

"Adoption is such an important part of my life that working in this field feels like a perfect fit for me. Having worked with birth parents and now with adoptive families, I have seen the joy that adoption brings to everyone involved!"

Liz Keller, Adoptive Parent Counselor

Liz is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and has done graduate work in counseling. She is a licensed social worker in Minnesota and has worked in the adoption field for many years. Liz herself was adopted as an infant, and she and her husband have one biological and two adopted children who are now grown and on their own.

"Nothing, but nothing, compares to the joy of adoptive parents who find that special birth mother who gives them the supreme gift of a child to raise."

Michelle Dahn, Adoptive Parent Counselor

Michele joins us after working for many years for an adoption agency in Florida. She has a B.A. in psychology. She and her husband adopted their daughter through Adoption Minnesota.

"Adoption is an important part of my life, both professionally and personally. Our daughter is the most wonderful gift we have ever received, and helping other families to achieve their dream of a child is the best part of my job."

Kathi Huenemann, Adoptive Parent Counselor

Kathi is a licensed independent social worker with a Masters degree from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. She has many years of experience in adoption, having worked with both international and domestic placements.

"Creating families through adoption is a passion of mine. I have a dream job!"

Birth Parent Counselors

Ruth Jensen, Birth Parent Counselor

Ruth is a graduate of Bethany College in Social Work. She has been with Adoption Minnesota and Wellspring for over 11 years. Adopted herself as an infant, Ruth has a special insight into how birth mothers and adopted children see the world.

"I am so impressed and so thankful that my birth mother made the hard decision she did -- to place me with a loving adoptive family where I was able to thrive. I have a special place in my heart for all women who make that choice."