Our Staff

Katy began her social work career by working in post adoption services, reuniting birth parents and their adopted children. This work was personal and incredibly rewarding due to her own separation from her birth mother and trans-racial adoption. Katy obtained her B.A. in Sociology at Northern Illinois University in 2006 and completed her MSW as a Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholar from the University of Minnesota in 2009. Her professional experience has been in ARMHS services, Case Management, therapist in private practice, Program Director of CTSS and ARMHS, and later as founder and CEO of Minnesota CarePartner in 2013. Her life commitment is centered around advocacy for racial justice and the liberation of Black and Brown people, and actively working to dismantle systems of oppression through collective protest.

Maria Hipkins, MSW, LICSW I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at The College of St. Scholastic in 2010. Following my undergraduate degree, I entered the Graduate Social Work program through the University of Minnesota, where I graduated and earned my Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2012. I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and Board Approved Supervisor in the State of Minnesota. I am also approved to provide clinical supervision to those under the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. I have been working in the Mental Health field for over 20 years with both adults and youth. I am a 1st generation college graduate and I hold a strong value in inclusive and fairly represented educational opportunities. I am a Child Welfare Scholar and I practice with a trauma informed lens. I believe in the power of connection and providing a safe space to be curious and explore what healing looks like for each client. I strive to work through an anti-racist and social justice model.

Kahmiyah is currently working towards receiving her MA from Saint Marys University and is expected to graduate in Spring 2021. She utilizes a humanistic approach that includes aspects of CBT, strengths-based, and person-centered approaches. Kahmiyah believes it is important for clients to feel empowered in their therapeutic journey and towards reaching their full potential. Kahmiyah is passionate about working with children and families in underserved communities. As well as actively working towards closing the accessibility gap in mental health services and the disparity gap in education in these communities. Kahmiyah enjoys collecting and growing house plants, as well as learning more about plant/nature-based therapy. She is striving towards being able to merge her passion for children and mental health with plants/nature.

Ahmisa is a graduate social work student at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Throughout her academic and professional experiences, she has notably valued working with young folx, diverse and intersectional communities, women's mental health, and grief and loss. She has a profound appreciation for learning about the unique and intersectional events that have shaped each person's life. Although continually building her repertoire, Ahmisa has a multifaceted, client-centered, and strengths-based approach -- pulling from several modalities depending on an individual's needs. Her goal is to collaborate with and empower each individual she works with to make life-long, sustainable, and fulfilling adjustments in their lives. When Ahmisa is not working, she enjoys arts- and culturally-based events, watching teen dramas with her daughter, spinning cotton candy, and being out in nature with her pups and family.

Hi my name is Suzana I'm originally from Cape Verde. It's an archipelago of 10 island on the west coast of Africa. I grew up in Rome until I was 19, that's when I moved back home for a short period before starting my higher education in Brazil as a Psychologist in 2005. Been exposed to so many different cultures, languages and environment allowed me to develop a sense of community that push me to recreate familiarity around myself and others. I identify myself as a migrant, feminist, psychoanalyst trained, researcher. I earned a Doctoral Degree in Psychosociology of Communities and Social Ecology in 2020. My research involves mobility, mental health and clinical practice with forced migration. As a consultant I was part of institutional projects involving mental health care with vulnerable populations. I speak 6 different languages in order to communicate with my patients. Fun facts: I'm a mom of two exceptional teenagers and when I'm not working, I like to take my dog out for long walks. I love music, plants, dogs and cats.

Elise 지애/Gi-Ae Gooi (she/her) is a Korean-American cis woman and a proud first generation college graduate completing her final year at UMN’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program. With the belief that our personal and collective histories matter and oppression is real, she uses an intersectional and intergenerational lens with a strengths-based and healing-centered stance that honors the depth and breadth of who we are (becoming). Elise/지애/Gi-Ae builds her relationship-based practice upon 15 years of partnering with individuals (children, teens, and adults), families, and communities of a wide range of backgrounds and orientations as an educator, coach, trainer and leader. Among many things, she enjoys connecting with loved ones (over delicious food!), being in nature, and listening to podcasts and audiobooks exploring what it means to be human.

Hablo español, trabajo con niños y adultos. Guatemalan native with 13 years of experience working with all ages. My work is always centered on the person's needs and personal goals, I'm trained in Stand Tray Therapy, my therapeutic orientation is more experiential with existential influences. I have a special interest in working with immigrant communities from around the world, helping them with cultural shock adaptation, and understanding the role their mental health plays in their life.

Pa was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She enjoys working with people of all ages and backgrounds. Pa has spent the last six years working in early childhood education. In the last year, she transitioned to a case management position where she helps people access services, resources, and the community. Pa enjoys creating, collaborating and celebrating with all the people that she works with. When Pa is not working, she enjoys going on hikes, spending time with family and taking naps.

Katherine (she/her) is in her final year of her Masters of Social Work program at Augsburg University. She grew up in St. Paul Minnesota and moved back after earning a Bachelors degree in social work from St. Olaf College. Her experiences include children’s mental health services and time with the Minnesota House of Representatives. Most notably, she has spent the last several years working in the child welfare sphere with teens who have experienced a termination of parental rights by the courts to find permanency, and with relative/kin and other families who would like to be a permanency resource for youth in foster care. As a transracial, transnational adoptee herself, Katherine values belonging, connection, & community. She brings these values into session in addition to a trauma informed lens that is intersectional and client centered. She believes in partnering with clients to create both brave and safe spaces where people can feel comfortable bringing all aspects of their multifaceted identities and explore what healing looks like for them. She is committed to practicing through racial and social justice frameworks. When not working or in school, you can catch Katherine cooking or baking and grabbing Boba tea from her favorite local spots. She also loves to hang her hammock in various MN parks and catch up on a good book or with friends.

I was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1992 in the midst of the civil war. I moved a lot across Africa and came to Minnesota as a fifth grader with no knowledge of English in the fall of 2002. I have always being part of helping my family and neighbors with paper work and connecting them with resources from a young age. I have graduated with my Bachelors in Social Work from St. Catherine University and then received my Masters of Social Work in Clinical Social Work from the University of St. Thomas in 2021. I hold my LGSW currently. I have provided therapy to children, adolescence, and adults from various backgrounds. I enjoy supporting my clients who have many intersectionality and how much strength they already hold. I have used strength perspective, culturally sensitive, naming intergenerational trauma and systemic oppression in my work. I enjoy watching reality TV shows on my free time.