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It is back to school for students and our School Linked Mental Health therapists. We asked Nina Murray MSW, LGSW to share about our in-school therapy services for students from early childhood to age 21.   

Why is it important to have Mental Health therapists in schools?

Our program increases access to therapy services by having therapists in schools. We are able to meet students where they are, taking out barriers like needing transportation. There are also no out-of-pocket costs for families. We do not collect co-payments and directly bill insurance. However, if students are uninsured, we are able to provide free services.

What services does the School Linked Mental Health program provide?

Teachers and school counselors refer students. Many student issues present as behavioral difficulties adjusting to life changes, such as family structure or moves; academic struggles or a lack of motivation; and, peer-related issues such as bullying or establishing positive social skills. Our services include diagnostic assessments and treatment plans for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, PTSD, and Autism.

What motivates you in this work?

I became a therapist because I felt like so much of the work I was doing with clients and students was helping to alleviate the symptoms rather than getting to the root of the actual issue. I did my first-year internship in an elementary school and fell in love with working with students, but I was getting frustrated with how little time I had to dedicate to individual students.

Being a school linked therapist means I have extended individual time with my students and we are able to do deeper trauma work. This type of work helps to resolve a lot of the emotional and behavioral distress that students may be struggling with.

Nina Murray MSW, LGSW

What have family members, teachers and counselors said about the program’s impact? 

A lot of the feedback we get is positive, especially from parents and caregivers noticing that their child seems calmer and more up for talking about their feelings. I have had parents and caregivers tell me that they have seen positive behavioral and emotional changes. So much of what is affecting student’s lives is out of their control. By having someone to talk to and building trust, we can provide ways for them to cope with any family issues and succeed in school.

What schools does the program serve and is there demand to be in more locations? 

We serve students from preschool through transition or GED, so, ages 2-21. The need for School Linked Mental Health to expand to more locations is there – but more funding support is needed. The Family Partnership School Linked Mental Health program currently partners with Brooklyn Center Secondary, Brooklyn Center Early College Academy, Richfield STEM school, Richfield Centennial Elementary, Longfellow Alternative High School in Minneapolis, Hennepin County PICA Headstarts, Anthony Middle School, and Windom Elementary. 

Learn more about our School Linked Mental Health.

Photo by Taylor Wilcox on Unsplash

Back row left to right: Joy Spika, Thomasina TopBear, Holly Miskitoos Henning, Charles Garcia, Rony Lopez
Front row left to right:  Simone Tincher and Achak Garcia

The Family Partnership commissioned the BIPOC artist collective City Mischief Murals to create a large-scale mural as a welcoming presence for the agency’s new Building for Better Futures resource center at 1527 E. Lake Street. The mural was installed July 2-6, 2021 on the building’s east facing exterior wall. 

“The mural brightens the space and reflects the diversity and strengths of all the different cultures of the neighborhood. The images are especially powerful for children to identify with, including those attending The Family Partnership’s Four Directions Family Center.”   

City Mischief Artist Statement

Mural by Number Description  

To honor the first nations’ people, upon whose traditional land Minneapolis resides:  

  1. Jingle dress dancer, honoring Ojibwe medicine and space. 
  1. Native American men’s traditional dancer, honoring our warriors, this style of dance that originated with Lakota warriors who were returning from war.  
  1. Lakota morning star, based on star teachings. 

To honor Latino culture: 

  1. Latina’s skirt are the colors of flag of Mexico. 
  1. Marigolds (yellow/orange flowers) represent traditional offerings in Mexican culture. 

To honor the Somali and East African immigrant population in South Minneapolis: 

  1. King Protea (pink flowers) are the national flower in Somali and common throughout East Africa. 
  1. Butterfly has the colors of the flag of Somalia.  
  1. East African/Somali mother reads to a child. 
  1. African drummer represents the roots of African-Americans in the U.S. 
  1. Black Lives Matter fist logo represents the social movement against systemic racism and protests over George Floyd’s murder in 2020 in Minneapolis. 
  1. The logo of The Family Partnership represents outreach, unity, and partnership. 

About City Mischief Murals – The collective’s name was created to represent “the spirit of mischief” of street art, and how cities are often an artist’s landscape. The Black, Indigenous, Latinx and Pacific Islander artist collective produces murals and creative projects with a mission focused on creating opportunities for youth and promoting healing through art. It also creates a safe atmosphere for communities of color in the Twin Cities to practice their art forms.  

Learn more About The Family Partnership.

When high profile athletes Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka withdrew from competition for mental health reasons, it set a powerful example. Our therapist Rachel Collins, MSW shares how this is a cultural change for Black athletes to prioritize themselves above institutions and the gaze of whiteness.

In 2021, both the greatest gymnast of all time and a major tennis star set boundaries around their mental health. First Japan’s tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open, and this week, USA gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from the finals of the Olympic games.

It has become clear in recent conversations involving Osaka, Biles, and other Black athletes, that many people (who are both a part of the athletic world and those who are spectators) are scared to see this generation of Black people prioritize themselves above institutions and the gaze of whiteness. There are many Black and indigenous POC folks who cannot fathom what it means to simply say “No” – to walk away from all you have worked hard for to take care of their own mental health. However, Black folks have been saying “no” to the violence of grind culture, and have been subversive by finding spaces of rest and joy in order to thrive in places that want to kill us – physically and emotionally.

“To have the power to simply say ‘no’, to prioritize your peace of mind, to say these ‘things’ don’t matter more than myself – is something a lot of Black people have never had the opportunity or privilege or confidence to do.”

Rachel Collins, Outpatient Therapist

What we are witnessing now is a generation of Black people who have seen their parents and others give their all and still not be enough. How many BIPOC LGBTQ+ people stayed in the closet only to end up lonely and disposable in the end? How many Black athletes “never gave up” and are now broke – financially physically, and emotionally drained from cultures that lifted them up when they were winning and at the top of their game only to discard them when they voiced their opinions?

Black millennials and Gen Z are saying this needs to change – now. Black people don’t owe anybody – And will and should continue to refuse to donate their body to these violent systems – and resist by radically resting and caring for themselves.

Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka are asserting the significance of their mental health in a world that has always privileged the physicality and athleticism of black bodies above the welfare of our minds and emotions. The gravity of these two incredible individuals’ actions is huge and can’t be understated.

Let’s applaud this level of self-care, and denounce this idolization of pushing through despite our pain. Just because you need to step back doesn’t make you any less of a champion.

What brave choice will you make today to prioritize your mental health?

Learn more about our Outpatient Mental Health Therapy services.

Photo Credit: Matt Lee on Unsplash

Catherine (Cat) Holl is serving as an Americorp VISTA volunteer at The Family Partnership for a second year. We asked Cat to talk about her mission to design a sustainable volunteer program and promote long-term volunteer relationships.  

What is the Americorps VISTA program? 

Americorps Volunteers in Service to America, or VISTA, is a national service program designed to alleviate poverty. The program focuses on education, public safety, health, and the environment to address unmet community needs.  

Why did you volunteer for The Family Partnership? 

I was looking for jobs in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and The Family Partnership’s work and approach to solving systemic and institutional issues matched my interest in a position that would be impactful and create lasting social justice change. 

What are you doing for The Family Partnership? 

Because there is no staff Volunteer Coordinator position, my goal is to develop a sustainable volunteer program that supports The Family Partnership’s programs and offers enrichment opportunities for clients and families. I work with program staff to identify their needs and then I create systems for volunteer identification, recruitment, and management.  

What examples of volunteer projects have you managed?    

I oversaw a new pilot program with undergraduate business students from the University of St. Thomas to create a community resource newsletter for current and prospective families. I sustained The Family Partnership’s relationship with Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority (University of Minnesota) for our preschool Halloween events, and, facilitated holiday gifts from Donaldson Companies and winter clothes donations from Rotary clubs.  

Why have you extended your service?   

I really enjoy the work! I hope to create greater impact in developing volunteer relationships and structure for activities. I also feel like I am a valued member of the organization, and I especially like The Family Partnership’s Mobility Mentoring program and Ojibwe and Dakota language immersion program at Four Directions preschool.  

What are your career plans? 

I graduated from the University of Minnesota 2019 with a degree in biology. Being a VISTA was part of taking a break from school before I pursue my Masters of Education to become a secondary science teacher.  

You can find out more about volunteering with The Family Partnership (scroll to Volunteer in the drop down menu).

Follow the Mural Progress and Share Your Photos

The Family Partnership commissioned the BIPOC artist collective City Mischief Murals to create a large-scale mural for the east facing exterior wall of the agency’s new Building for Better Futures resource center at 1527 E. Lake Street.

City Mischief’s name was chosen to represent “the spirit of mischief” of street art, and how cities are often an artist’s landscape. The Black, Indigenous, Latinix and Pacific Islander artist collective produces murals and creative projects with a mission focused on creating opportunities for youth and promoting healing through art. It also creates a safe atmosphere for communities of color in the Twin Cities to practice their art forms.

The vision for the mural is to reflect and celebrate the diversity and strengths of families in the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods, and provide a welcoming presence for families and individuals accessing services at The Family Partnership.

“This mural will connect all the different cultures in the neighborhood with the younger generation, and will be especially powerful for the children attending Four Directions preschool at The Family Partnership building.”


Thomasina TopBear, a lead artist and co-organizer

Mural Installation Timing

The 54’ wide by nearly 16’ high mural will come to life by artists from City Mischief Murals using gallons of multi-colored bright paint. The artists will primarily use spray paint and a scissor lift for higher areas of the wall.

(July 6 after 4:30 pm if necessary or if thunderstorms delay painting)

City Mischief Artists on Project 

Black, Indigenous, Latinx and Pacific Islander artists from City Mischief Murals:

Follow the Mural Progress and Share Your photos – Stop by to see the progress, take photos, and tag @thefamilypartnership and @citymischief on Instagram. 

Join us on June 12th and 14th for our Building Mural Community Input Meetings!

The Family Partnership has engaged City Mischief to create a large-scale mural for the east facing exterior wall of our new Building for Better Futures resource center at 1527 E. Lake Street. Join the artists and The Family Partnership to learn more about the vision for the mural and provide input towards its design. The vision for the mural is to reflect and celebrate the diversity and strengths of Minneapolis families.

Mural Community Input Meetings

Register online:  www.LakeStMural.eventbrite.com

Saturday, June 12 – 10 am – 11:30 am,

Monday, June 14 –  6:30 pm – 8 pm. 

The meetings will be virtual through zoom with very limited in-person attendance. Somali and Spanish language interpreters will be at the meetings. To learn more, download one of our informational flyers below.

english flyer
Spanish/somali Flyer

The Family Partnership’s new Building for Better Futures center will open with preschool, childcare and therapy services. More family services and the agency’s headquarters also relocated.

The voices of preschool children will ring through The Family Partnership’s new South Minneapolis building on June 4 when the Four Directions multicultural therapeutic preschool re-opens at its new address at 1527 E. Lake Street. The Family Partnership also operates a North Minneapolis preschool and family services building. 

Construction on The Family Partnership’s 48,122 square-foot building began in February 2020 and finished on schedule March 1. The Family Partnership is moving its corporate office and programs from three previous locations into the new facility. The building has 3X more space to better serve families and implement the organization’s two-generation (2Gen) approach.

The new building will include:

In 2012, our board made an intentional decision that rather than families coming to us, our services would locate in the heart of the communities we serve.

Molly Greenman, President and CEO of The Family Partnership,

This video demonstrates how the new building will better facilitate services to families. Learn more about The Family Partnership’s new Building for Better Futures.

We would like to introduce Mikki Mariotti, the New Director of The Family Partnership’s Anti-Sex Trafficking program. We asked Mikki to share why she is passionate about Anti-Sex Trafficking work and how she plans to serve a wide range of people through The Family Partnership’s PRIDE program.

What are your goals as the new PRIDE Director?  

I look forward to using my passion for this work to serve a wide range of people. That includes youth, people from Indigenous backgrounds, all genders, and LGTBQ populations – these are the people most often marginalized by society.

I hope to build a strong and confident team that works cohesively together and fully understands the dynamics of prostitution/sex trafficking, addiction, and domestic violence so that we can better serve individuals who are impacted.

How did your previous work prepare you for this position?

For six years, I worked with the DIGNITY Program operated by Catholic Charities in Phoenix. I started as a volunteer and then became a supervisor and case manager of five long-term housing programs. I also managed and trained hundreds of volunteers. My experience as the program’s outreach coordinator will directly translate to the work that PRIDE does in Minneapolis, as I also supervised the DIGNITY street outreach team.

What makes it is so hard for people to leave commercial sexual exploitation?

Individuals become isolated because traffickers manipulate and control all aspects of their life. The trafficker’s goal is to separate each individual from their support systems and other people, so they become solely dependent on the trafficker.

“Trauma bonds” (the belief that your trafficker is the ONLY one that cares for you) keeps people in the life from leaving abusive relationships with their traffickers. Many individuals also struggle with chemical or relationship addiction, loss of income, or have no place of their own to live.Finally, the trafficker will seek out those who dare to leave.

What is the biggest misconception about sex trafficking?

Most people think it can’t happen to me or my family. But, all age groups, genders and races are recruited into commercial sexual exploitation. I recently had a friend whose daughter quit coming home after work. As I was talking with her, I realized her daughter was being groomed by a trafficker. The trafficker told the girl that she was 18 and didn’t need to tell her mom anything she was doing.

I told my friend to call the FBI and a local intervention program, but initially she replied, “But Mikki, that’s not happening to my daughter. Stop scaring me.” Eventually, my friend did contact the FBI and when her daughter came home, she said to me “Mikki, you were so right.” Isolation from support systems and secrecy are big warning signs. Often it is a choice of no choices as the trafficker grooms their victim to become totally dependent on them.  

You have lived in most major cities in the U.S. and in the Bahamas, what are your ties to Minnesota?

I was born in Korea and adopted at the age of five and a half by a family in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and that is where I lived until I was 18. I came back to Minnesota to visit family and friends when one of my lifelong friends suggested I apply for this position at The Family Partnership. I love Minnesota’s four seasons and visiting the farmers markets.

A message from Molly Greenman:

On April 20, Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three charges.

No verdict can bring back George Floyd nor erase the trauma caused to his family, African-Americans, and our community. However, we are grateful for this small measure of justice. We have no doubt that this was made possible in part by the activists who took to the streets in collective outrage and grief to demand justice and by all those who have worked tirelessly to assure that Derek Chauvin be held accountable.

While this verdict is a positive step, the journey towards racial justice and equity is long, and our work is not finished. The Family Partnership stands in solidarity with Black and Brown communities and our staff and clients who have experienced violence at the hands of the police. We remain committed to advocating for policy and systems change while working in partnership with communities experiencing disparities to build a more equitable Minnesota.

We also know that many in our communities may need support given the intensity and impact of the trial. We encourage you to take care of yourself and seek the support you need. 

Stay safe. Take care of yourself. Take care of each other.