someone in Their Corner

She’s a woman who loves caring for others, is passionate about helping kids find loving homes, and has learned that the doors God opens are the right doors to walk through. Meet Linda Jaeger, the 2012 Angels in Adoption award winner from North Dakota.

Jaeger has spent most of her three-plus decades in social work in the arena of adoption, working with birth parents, adoptive parents, foster parents and many, many babies and children. “After I got my social work degree from Concordia College,” she said, “I started working at Catholic Charities. Initially

I spent a few years working with family life programs and refugee resettlement and then moved into counseling with birth and adoptive parents. I spent about 20 years as an adoption worker, with 10 of those years as the adoption director after getting my master’s degree at the University of Minnesota.”

“When someone has an unplanned pregnancy and they’re struggling, they sometimes can’t see the good,” she said. “They need someone in their corner to let them know they can do it. It’s particularly hard when they don’t have support. I try to help them recognize their strengths and to empower them; give them options, but never push. They know in their heart what the right decision is.”

“Parenting is the most important job you’ll ever do, and you do it without training,” Jaeger said. “When I work with clients, I try to affirm them, to let them know they can get through this difficult time. They are amazing!”

by Joyce eisenbraun

In 2008, Jaeger said “God opened the door” to Southeast Human Services, to work as regional supervisor for child protection, foster and adoption services. “At Southeast I provide administrative and technical support to County Social Services and other private agencies in Region V to ensure safety, permanency and well-being for children. As a federal Trainer for the Infant Adoption Training Initiative I have the privilege of traveling throughout the state educating nurses, physicians, school counselors, social workers and other professionals about adoption,” Jaeger said.

Jaeger was nominated by former Senator Kent Conrad for the national award. He commended Jaeger for her outstanding advocacy of adoption and foster care, noting that her “many years of dedication and commitment to children serve as a shining example to both the community and the nation.” Jaeger and husband, Kevin, went to Washington, DC to accept the award last fall.

Although Jaeger admitted that the Angels in Adoption award was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, she said, “when former clients have looked me up, to tell me that their child is now 18 and doing well, and they wanted me to know, that’s the best!”

Whether spending time with her husband, Kevin, or two sons, singing for church, having coffee with friends or spending time on the family farm in the summer, Jaeger brings life, joy and laughter to many. And for those clients and staff who daily struggle with difficult decisions, Jaeger promises to always be in their corner. [AWM]

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