Foster Youth Outreach & Engagement Specialist-Community Services Program Specialist 2

About the role

The Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson (OOFY) is an independent agency opened in 2024. The purpose of OOFY is to investigate decisions, acts, and other matters related to the health, safety, and welfare of youth in foster care, to promote the highest attainable standards of competence, efficiency, and justice for youth who are in the care of the state.

This position exists to lead and coordinate foster youth engagement and outreach activities for OOFY, provide intake and investigatory support, and support OOFY leadership with legislative policy monitoring and coordination, under limited supervision.

Responsibilities

• Conduct individual meetings and group outreach (both virtually and in-person) in facilities and other settings around the state
• Support OOFY's investigatory activities, conducting intake interviews as-needed and following up with foster youth who have submitted concerns or complaints
• Build collaborative relationships with facility and program staff and others who support foster youth
• Collect and analyze data on systemic issues and conduct foster care policy analysis and research
• Exercise discretion in applying the policies, mission, vision, and values of OOFY in their work, and in building and maintaining positive relationships with OOFY stakeholders
• Access various residential settings of foster youth, including family foster care homes, group homes, and institutional settings, and access to sensitive data under the delegated statutory authority of the Ombuds

Minimum qualifications

• Two years of full-time equivalent outreach, education, training, or case management experience
• Experience engaging with children, youth, and/or young adults, foster youth or historically impacted populations in particular, in a professional setting
• Ability to use customer service and trauma-informed interviewing skills sufficient to provide prompt, courteous and accurate information and effectively communicate and elicit information with tact and diplomacy
• Experience developing materials, and presentation skills sufficient to effectively present to youth learners
• Computer skills demonstrating proficiency with word processing, database, spreadsheet, and presentation software
• Experience working with confidential and sensitive data appropriately and in accordance with the Minnesota Data Practices Act
• Oral and written comprehension and communication skills sufficient to communicate effectively and concisely with a broad variety of partners

Preferred qualifications

• Knowledge of Minnesota's child welfare system, including child protection, foster care, extended foster care, kinship care and adoption, and policies, governmental organizations, and public policy structures
• Knowledge of state and federal laws, rules, and regulations related to foster care/child welfare, and/or knowledge of best-practices or policies
• Experience sharing complex, evolving information about benefits, programs, or rights
• Experience monitoring legislative hearings and reviewing legislative proposals
• Ability to respect cultural differences and work with people from diverse backgrounds and religions
• Human relations skills sufficient to work effectively with a variety of partners; to effectively persuade; to deal effectively with complex and oftentimes competing relationships; and to understand, develop, motivate, collaborate, and lead others
• Experience working with Quickbase or similar case management system

Pay

$26.89 - $39.22 / hourly; $56,146 - $81,891 / annually

Schedule

Full-time, day shift, Monday - Friday. Travel required up to 30%. This position is eligible for up to a 50% hybrid telework arrangement. With a telework arrangement, additional onsite attendance may be required for team meetings or as requested by management to meet business needs. Completion of a telework agreement will be required.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care, including IVF
• Diabetes care
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being
• Training, classes, and professional development
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (some positions may qualify)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support addressing mental health, relationship challenges, grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
• Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.