About Kris

Kris Miner

I was born on March 6, 1968.  My birthday is shared with the Anniversary of the Alamo, thanks to Davey Crockett, “Remember the Alamo”.  When I visited the Alamo, I felt connected to my personality traits of persistence and strength and wondered if that might be the connection. 

A few days old I was adopted, thanks to neighbors that plowed out after a snowstorm, my parents Ann & Dennis were able to take me home.  We lived a few years on a farm in South Dakota.   Just over 2 my parents adopted my brother Scott.  Eight years later, they naturally gave birth to sister Holly, and we moved back to the farm in South Dakota.

I loved growing up on the farm. I headed off to college to be a nurse.  I look back and realize I thought I only had 3 choices: Farm Wife, Teacher or Nurse.  The first two didn’t appeal to me. 

Once at College, I wasn’t exactly ‘focused’.  My Mothers fight with breast cancer started when I was 13 and ended when I was 20.  I found myself majoring in Mass Communications and planning to be a TV News Reporter.  A unexpectedly positive pregnancy test and to sum it up: life changed.

I stayed in college and got a Masters Degree in Counseling.   Turns out, I loved Grad School.  I got better grades as a single Mom than your typical student.  I was on a ‘work’ track and recieved AFDC and Foodstamps.  I really hated being on welfare and I left it behind as soon as I could.  It’s an experience I have to mention, because I learned so much from being on the recieving end of that ’system’. 

My first “real job”, in-home family therapist.  I worked with families in the juvenile justice and child protection systems.  I found creative ways to connect with families.  My tools for therapy were a little unique.  For example a tub of mini toys from McDonalds and Disney figurines, they actually were very theraputic.

A divorce and move from South Dakota to Rochester MN, and I found myself as a social worker for seriously emotionally disturbed adolescents.  I loved that and the photo of 3 of the girls and a foster Mom is still in my kitchen.  A coworker became a friend, and I’m  God Mother to her daughter.

I left Rochester MN, and a large system to work as a juvenile justice supervisor in Pierce County WI.  The county population in Olmstead was 140,00 and in Pierce County 30,000.  From the center of Rochester, MN 95,000 to Prescott WI 3,500.

I enjoyed supervising juvenile justice social workers and implemented some new programs.  I was “promoted” to also supervise the child protection unit.  Managing both was overwhelming.  I implemented a computer based program and new standards for child protection.  Not without a few bumps and bruises, but an ‘education’ that will last a life time.  It was time to leave that position and I went back to what I love, direct service.

I got more involved in the Circle process, and agreed to “try it” as the SCVRJP coordinator, I made a 6 month committment.  It was rocket fuel from there.  I hit my niche and have not looked back (except in awe and gratitude).

As of March 2009, I have been with SCVRJP for 3 years.  My Anniversary is in September.  I started part-time, working from home.  I am a full time employee with benefits, we have 2 additional employees, a bookkeeper and an office.  Our service levels have grown from 300 to 3,000.

One of my favorite areas of our program is to travel and provide trainings.  I really appreciate the opportunity to share Restorative Justice in a way that can change so many other lives.  I’ve gotten to grow in amazing ways, that just fuels the gratitude I have.  I feel just blessed with this position and I anticipate this to position to last much longer than any I have held before.