After an extensive search, Nexus Family Healing announced Susan McPherson, MSW, as the Executive Director of its Minnesota foster care agency, Nexus-Kindred Family Healing.

As Executive Director, McPherson will lead strategy, programming, and daily operations of Nexus-Kindred, overseeing the range of foster care programs for youth and families across the state. McPherson will step into the role on January 4, 2021.

McPherson comes to Nexus-Kindred Family Healing with an extensive background in child and family services, including serving as Assistant Director of Clinical and Residential Services at Loudoun County Department of Family Services; as Administrator for Child and Family Service Agency for District of Columbia; and leading group homes, adolescent services, and client health data services for Abbott House in New York.

George Hendrickson, Executive Director of Nexus-Kindred Family Healing, one of Minnesota’s largest private foster care/adoption organizations, will be retiring at the end of 2020. Hendrickson has guided the organization through many transitions, including its affiliation with Nexus Family Healing and two mergers to grow and strengthen Nexus’ foster care services in Minnesota. However, his biggest accomplishment, he says, “is the unending stories where a youth’s life is positively impacted and the ensuing success.”

Lydia*, a young woman suffering from extensive trauma, was receiving intensive therapy at Nexus-Woodbourne. During her stay, she expressed a passion for cooking. Staff recognized that passion and used it to build her confidence and her independence. They helped her obtain her food safety licensure and training. They taught her to manage the food expense budget for the program. And, every Friday, she prepared a special dinner for her unit.

Building Skills and Experience

Lydia was very proud that she was able to obtain the real-life skills she desired for independence. She even worked on creating a business plan for a food truck. After graduating from Nexus-Woodbourne, she enrolled in a Job Corps program that would help her continue down the path to reaching her goals.