Families Rising is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Location: Candidates must live in the Twin Cities Metro Area of Minnesota
Reports to: Families Rising MN Program Manager
Salary Range: $20-$25 per hour, 15-25 hours per week
FLSA Status: Nonexempt
To apply, submit a resume and cover letter to tenellethomas@wearefamiliesrising.org

Responsibilities

Serve as the parent support specialist for adoptive, foster, and kinship families throughout Minnesota.

Specifically, the parent support specialist will:

  • Conduct outreach in the community to agencies, counties, mental health professionals, and other service providers, building positive relationships and informing them about the support we provide to adoptive, foster, and kinship families.
  • Conduct outreach to local adoptive, foster, and kinship parents to engage them in available services and support and assess their support needs.
  • Provide one-on-one support to adoptive, foster, and kinship parents; support will include emotional support, parenting tips and strategies, information about core issues, and referrals to community resources.
  • Facilitate virtual and in-person support groups for adoptive, foster, and kinship parents.
  • Moderate private Facebook support groups for parents
  • Help coordinate supportive or recreational activities for children and youth
  • Serve as a positive member of the Families Rising and Families Rising Minnesota teams
  • Participate in regular meetings, training, and calls

Qualifications

  • Demonstrable problem-solving project management experience and skills
  • A bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, or related fields is preferred, or one year of relevant experience may be substituted for each year of the required education.
  • Strong interpersonal and team leadership skills
  • Strong organizational, time management, and verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools
  • Proficiency in project management tools and software, including Asana.
  • Experience with cloud-based hosting platforms like Google Docs and ASANA.

Skill Sets

  • Leadership: Able to lead their team to success by providing clear direction, motivation, and support.
  • Organization: Highly organized to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and resources simultaneously.
  • Time management: Able to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively to meet deadlines.
  • Risk management: Able to identify potential risks and take measures to mitigate them before they can negatively impact the project.
  • Budget management: Able to manage project budgets and make informed decisions to ensure the project stays within budget.
  • Problem-solving: Quickly identify and solve problems that may arise during a project.
  • Adaptability: Be adaptable and adjust plans and strategies to keep the project on track.
  • Teamwork: Able to work collaboratively with their team to achieve project goals.
  • Technical expertise: Understand the project’s technical aspects well and communicate effectively with technical team members.

Benefits

  • Safe and Sick Leave 80 hours/year
  • Eligibility for company-paid benefits such as life insurance, short and long-term disability and long-term care, subject to applicable waiting periods
  • Company-paid holidays
  • Work remotely from within Minnesota

Travel Required

  • 10% or less – You will be expected to travel for this position occasionally.

Physical Demands

  • Be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time
  • Be able to operate a computer and other office productivity consistently. Machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer
  • Have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand
  • Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations

Families Rising Equal Opportunity and Racial Equity Statement

As leaders in child welfare, we recognize systemic racism creates disparities that negatively impact our staff as well as the children and families we serve. Families Rising (formerly known as NACAC) is an equal opportunity employer. We are a BIPOC-led organization committed to a racially and culturally diverse workplace responsive to the needs of its staff and the people we serve. We want you to be able to show up authentically to work as you are. Our organization is a safe and affirming place for BIPOC people and members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and we are committed to living these values every day.

Studies indicate that women and people of color tend to underestimate their skills and only apply for a position if they meet all of the requirements. We encourage you to apply if you meet some or most of the requirements, especially if you have lived childhood experience in foster care. We know that not all expertise is earned in the classroom, and we value the insights gained from personal experience in foster care, adoption, and kinship care.

Additional Notes

Work is performed in a remote office environment within the state of Minnesota. This position may require occasional evenings and weekends. Families Rising conducts child protective services and sex offender registry checks on all employees.

Apply now!

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to tenellethomas@wearefamiliesrising.org

About Families Rising

Founded in 1974, Families Rising (formerly the North American Council on Adoptable Children) emerged from a passionate group of adoptive parent leaders who aimed to create a supportive community. It became the leading North American organization committed to supporting child welfare professionals and parents. Dedicated to advocacy, education, support, and leadership development, Families Rising has become the go-to resource for technical assistance, capacity building, and training across the United States and Canada. The annual Families Rising Adoption and Foster Care Conference brings thousands together once a year to learn from the top child welfare professionals in the nation to promote new and exciting child welfare workforce initiatives and strategies.