PATH Minnesota was established in 1972 by foster parents with the specific purpose of providing a personalized approach to foster care for children with special emotional, behavioral and medical needs. Our mission is to “Empower Children and Families to Achieve Lifelong Successes.” The majority of the services PATH Minnesota provides is Treatment Foster Care. To ensure that the children receive the highest quality of care, we provide foster parents with specialized education and other support services.

PATH Minnesota has 12 sites located throughout Minnesota, with the administrative office located in Monticello. In 2002 the 11 sites provided services to 938 youth with special needs, as well as support services to 371 foster care families and 76 biological or adoptive families. We have 57 direct service staff members who provide support to the youth and families. Our Board of Directors is comprised of foster parents, clinicians and others in the community committed to providing a better life for children.

Two-thirds of the children receiving services through PATH Minnesota are currently in a program that focuses on reunification with their families. Where family reunification is not possible, PATH Minnesota provides adoption services and resources to parents and children working to create new families. To address the root causes of out-of-home placement, PATH has also developed family preservation services to assist families whose children are at risk of entering the foster care system.