Duluth foster parent recognized for building connections between foster and birth families

A movement in Minnesota and nine other states calls for an approach to child welfare that maintains connections between foster and birth families, so they can work together to give children love and support. It’s called the Quality Parenting Initiative, or QPI. For Jessica Gunnarson, this strategy was a natural response to her personal experience on different sides of the child welfare system. Gunnarson is a foster parent in Duluth and she’s receiving an award this week from the initiative. And Kate Rickord works with the Youth Law Center, a national group behind QPI. Gunnarson and Rickord joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the unique approach to foster care.