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Working Title: Foster Youth Engagement Specialist / Community Svcs Program Spec 2

Job Class: Community Services Program Specialist 2

Agency: Children Youth & Families Dept

+ **Job ID** : 87986

+ **Location** : St. Paul

+ **Telework Eligible** : Yes

+ **Full/Part Time** : Full-Time

+ **Regular/Temporary** : Unlimited

+ **Who May Apply** : Open to all qualified job seekers. This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 8/8/25 _Please note that to be considered a bidder, you must be a permanent non-probationary DCYF employee in the same job classification as the position._

+ **Date Posted** : 08/01/2025

+ **Closing Date** : 08/15/2025

+ **Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit** : Children Youth & Families Dept / DCYF Central Office MAPE

+ **Division/Unit** : DCYF/Child Safety & Permanency

+ **Work Shift:** Day Shift

+ **Work Hours:** 8:00 am-4:30 pm

+ **Days of Work** : Monday - Friday

+ **Travel Required** : Yes

+ **Salary Range:** $26.04 - $37.98 / hourly; $54,371 - $79,302 / annually

+ **Classified Status** : Classified

+ **Bargaining Unit/Union** : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

+ **FLSA Status** : Nonexempt

+ Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DCYF does not participate in E-Verify.

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

***Telework Within Minnesota and flexible hours options are available. Employees that live 50 miles or less from their primary/principal work location and live within the State may telework more than 50% with approval. *** Employees may telework outside the state of Minnesota if they live in a state bordering Minnesota and live 50 miles or less from the primary/principal work location.

_*Statewide travel is possible 10 percentage of the time._

_*_ _***This posting may be used to fill multiple vacancies***_

The purpose of this position in Family Supports and Placement Services unit in Child Safety and Permanency is to engage with youth who have experienced foster care to establish a youth engaged child foster care program and improve the information available to foster youth. This position will work with current and former foster youth, the Youth Councils, community agencies serving youth in foster care, county and Tribal child welfare staff and other identified stakeholder to focus on growing the youth voice through coordinating youth voice opportunities, compiling their insight and vision to improve services for foster youth and ensuring policy, program and their private information is available to youth who have experienced foster care in Minnesota. This position will utilized the Minnesota Promise Report to establish foster care policy and program information that are youth friendly and lead development of a website or virtual portal for youth who have experienced foster care to access their personal records.

Responsibilities include:

+ Creating information that is accessible and youth friendly that supports the delivery of county and tribal agency child placement services that ensures compliance with federal (Title IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act) and state laws and regulations

+ Engaging and collaborating with current and former youth in foster care to implement the recommendations of the Minnesota Promise Report.

+ Fostering positive interpersonal relationships with coworkers, managers, and customers so all are treated in a respectful, professional, and humane manner.

+ Developing information for youth in foster care that includes creation of a website or portal for youth to access information about themselves.

+ Exploring practices regarding prudent parenting for youth in foster care.

Minimum Qualifications

One year of professional experience OR 3 years advanced technical or paraprofessional experience with outreach, education, and/or training. Experience must include the following:

+ Computer skills demonstrating proficiency with word processing, database, spreadsheet, and presentation software.

+ Excellent oral and written comprehension and communication skills sufficient to communicate effectively and concisely with a broad variety of stakeholders.

+ Experience engaging historically impacted populations through inclusive and equitable outreach. Skilled in building trust, fostering participation, and expanding access to resources.

+ Strong interpersonal skills to engage, collaborate, and maintain relationships with community organizations, government agencies, the public and with individuals from diverse backgrounds and underserved communities.

+ Experience developing materials, and presentation skills sufficient to effectively present to youth learners.

+ Experience engaging with young people or historically impacted populations, foster youth in particular.

+ Human relations skills sufficient to work effectively with a variety of stakeholders; to effectively persuade; to deal effectively with complex and oftentimes competing relationships; and to understand, develop, motivate, collaborate, and lead others.

Preferred Qualifications

+ Lived experience as a foster youth.

+ Experience working in a community/social service agency.

+ 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.

+ Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Additional Requirements

REFERENCE/BACKGROUND CHECKS – DCYF will conduct reference checks to verify job-related credentials and a criminal background check prior to appointment.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [email protected] . Please indicate what assistance is needed.