Continuing his work in the child welfare field, Foster America alumnus Asad Bandeali has partnered with nonprofit organization Family Rise Together to win a $500,000 grant towards promoting kinship caregiving in Minnesota. Evidence has proven that when children are removed from their homes, they have better outcomes when they can be placed with a relative or adult with whom they already have a relationship, also known as kinship caregiving. Yet there is often a lack of formal support for this type of placement.
Over two years, the grant will fund Growing Kinship Connection, a program Family Rise Together and Asad have partnered on to serve Black, Indigenous and other families of color in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Growing Kinship Connection aims to reduce out of home placements and increase kinship placements, as well as improve the overall wellbeing of the children and families they serve as they navigate the legal system. Click here to read more about the grant and the kinds of services it will fund. Funding was awarded by the Minnesota-based Sauer Family Foundation.
Asad spent his 18 month fellowship in St. Louis County, Minnesota, where he focused on advancing prevention and building relationships to create lasting systems change. in April 2021, Asad launched A Spark Consulting, where he uses his skills to consult with governmental agencies, nonprofits, social impact agencies, and tech organizations who work with the public sector. To learn more, contact Asad on his website.
Family Rise Together provides direct community services, including a variety of counseling services, economic support, and case management. Learn more about their work here.
In 2026, Foster America marks a decade of building an alternative to a child welfare system rooted in crisis—and proving that families thrive when support comes early, with dignity, and led by community.
