Alexis Oberdorfer Named New Children’s Home Society President
Alexis Oberdorfer, a longtime adoption expert and child welfare advocate, became president of Children’s Home Society of Minnesota (Children’s Home) on November 14. She was also named as associate vice president for adoption and foster care at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS). The two organizations have been partners in Adoption Services since 2012.
“Every child should be loved, cared for and be part of a family,” Oberdorfer said. “It is my honor to lead an organization that has been at work for 130 years putting this into action every day. I am equally honored be part of the important work at LSS that promotes health, stability and wellbeing for children, youth and families.”
Oberdorfer has served in child welfare in public and private sectors for more than 25 years and has extensive experience in policy, administration, training and direct care of children and families. She joined Children’s Home in 2008, and most recently led adoption services as senior director for Children’s Home and LSS.
Collectively, the two organizations have placed more than 47,000 children in adoptive families over 285 years of shared history. They also provide pregnancy services, foster care, shelter care, education and post adoption support.
Previously, Oberdorfer oversaw adoption policy and contracts for adoption services statewide for the Minnesota Department of Human Service and has also had roles supporting foster care and guardianship through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
“Alexis brings compassion along with experience and expertise to her new role,” said Lance Novak, Chair of Children’s Home Society Board of Directors. “She cares deeply for the children we serve as well as their birth families, foster families and adoptive families. We are pleased to have Alexis as the new Children’s Home Society President.”
Oberdorfer holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, School of Social Work, Center for Advance Studies in Child Welfare and a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Wartburg College.
She has received awards from the North American Council on Adoptable Children and was named a Child Welfare scholar for the Center of Advance Studies in Child Welfare at the University of Minnesota. She served on the Board of the National Council on Adoption, the Advisory Board of the National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster/Adoptive Parents and the Advisory Board of the Permanency & Adoption Competency Certificate Program at the University of Minnesota.
“Alexis is uniquely qualified for her new roles,” said Maureen Warren, who stepped down as president of Children’s Home and currently serves as Chief Family Services Officer for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.
“With her deep experience and dedication to child and family wellbeing, she’s a statewide leader in her field and we’re fortunate to have her leading this important work for Children’s Home and LSS.
As an adoptive parent and adopted child raised in a multicultural and multiracial family, Oberdorfer brings a wealth of personal experience to her work supporting vulnerable children here and around the world who need adoption. She has three children, including two adopted siblings.
In 2012, Children’s Home Society of Minnesota and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota combined complementary adoption services, high standards of quality and experience creating and supporting families. To meet the growing need of children in Minnesota’s foster care system, Children’s Home expanded services in 2018 to provide licensing, education and preparation for foster care resource families.