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Welcome to the MN Office of Ombudsperson for Families July Newsletter |
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Job opportunities, OBFF in the community, and more!
The Office of Ombudsperson for Families (OBFF) is hiring!
The OBFF is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Investigator. This newly created position will fill the important role of investigating complaints made by the family or loved ones of children in out-of-home placement (foster care/kinship care) due to a child protection matter. The investigator will work with the Ombudspersons of OBFF to ensure that the laws of Minnesota are being followed without the impact of racism or bias, and that the families are treated in a fair and reasonable manner.
If you know anyone that may be interested in applying for this position, please direct them to the job posting on the State of Minnesota Careers website (search for Job ID 86904). If you or a potential applicant have any questions, please contact obff.info@state.mn.us.
Applications will be accepted now through Tuesday, July 8. Apply online today!
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Be MCLA's Next Executive Director!
With the upcoming retirement of Executive Director Rosa Tock on October 31, 2025, after a remarkable 32-year career in public service, the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs (MCLA) is beginning the search for its next leader. The job posting for MCLA’s next Executive Director is now live. We invite qualified, visionary candidates committed to advancing equity for Latino communities in Minnesota to apply. Finalist interviews are expected to take place this fall.
The Executive Director (Director) assists MCLA with its statutory duty to advise the legislature and the Governor on issues related to economic, social, legal, and political equality for the Latino community in the state. The Director serves as the primary administrator and executive of the Council. The Director implements Council decisions and advocates for public policies recommended by the Council. The Director carries out all duties described in Minnesota Statues 15.0145.
Under Minn. Statutes 15.0145, the executive director of the council is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC).
Apply now! For more information and to apply, search the Minnesota state careers site and enter Job ID# 86453.
Opens: June 5, 2025
Closes: July 9, 2025
Questions about the position? Contact Jennifer Otley at jennifer.otley@state.mn.us or 651-201-2498.
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 The Office of Ombudsperson for Families had a table at the State Capitol's Juneteenth celebration on June 21. Despite the heat that day, Ombudsperson Manuel Zuniga was able to share information about OBFF with members of the community on the Capitol lawn, as part of the event's Career and Resource Fair!
The State Capitol's Juneteenth celebration is done through the ANIKA Foundation and brings together members of the community and organizations to celebrate Juneteenth and the culture, journey, and contributions of people of African descent.
Thank you to everyone who came out and braved the heat!
OBFF staff tabled with the State of Minnesota's LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group, MNclusive, at Twin Cities Pride! Ombudsperson Manuel Zuniga, Deputy Ombudsperson Beth Chaplin, and Office Manager Katie Heilman helped spread the word about the Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans Community Needs Survey and ran trivia games for members of the community.
The Twin Cities Pride Festival is held at the end of June every year to commemorate the Stonewall Riots and celebrate the LGBTQIA2S+ community in Minnesota. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the MNclusive booth!
Honoring Representative Melissa Hortman
Mourners from around the state of Minnesota and beyond gathered at the Capitol on Friday to give their respects as Representative Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and dog Gilbert lied in state. Two officers stood watch over the caskets, while a set of golden retrievers stood as an Honor Guard for Gilbert.
From Governor Tim Walz: "Mark and Melissa lie peacefully at the center of our state and our hearts today. Their memorial, guarded by service dogs and men and women in uniform, casts a momentary shadow over L'Étoile du Nord as we honor their life’s work to make Minnesota shine brighter for all."
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Community Resource Center and Kinship Navigator Communities of Practice
Starting in July, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (department) will be offering community of practice (COP) sessions for community navigators. These COPs are designed to support the needs of the department’s contracted Community Resource Center and Kinship Navigator program staff. However, any others providing navigation to families are welcome to attend.
July’s community of practice
This upcoming month’s topic will surround the recruitment and development of local parent advisory councils. MaryJo Caruso, a partner from FRIENDS, (Family Resource Information, Education and Network Development Service), will be guest speaking along with Anthony Queen, parent leader and FRIENDS PAC alumnus, and providing resources on the topic.
CAPM 2025 Legislative Session Recap
Join the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM) for a recap of the 2025 Legislative Session. Legislative leaders will convene for an in-person discussion on the impacts of new policies on the community. This event will include an opening discussion where audience members can ask questions for legislative leaders and committee chairs, while the second half of the day will involve group discussions. CAPM hopes that this format will create an engaging and informative experience for the community.
Event Details:
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Date and Time: Saturday, July 26, 9:00am - 12:00pm
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Location: Minnesota Humanities Center, 987 Ivy Ave E, St. Paul, MN 55106
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Registration: Register in advance and share what topics you want to hear about!
- There will be light refreshments available.
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July Foster Care Community of Practice Meetings
The next Foster Care Community of Practice meetings are on July 29 and 31, 2025. These duplicate meetings invite Tribal and county workers and other stakeholders to connect and share practice information. Learn more about the Foster Care Community of Practice.
The July 2025 meeting topic is "Maintaining Connections for Children in Foster Care." During these meetings, we will share an overview of the updated Practice Guide for Maintaining Family Connections for Children in Foster Care (DHS-5552). Breakout sessions will allow workers to collaborate on and discuss best practices regarding family visitation.
Participants only need to attend one of the meetings below:
Asset Mapping for Child Welfare Workshop
Join the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) for a workshop on Asset Mapping for Child Welfare! This interactive workshop introduces community asset mapping as a way to highlight resources, relationships, and capacities already present in a community.
Participants will learn how to identify the core components of asset-based community development, apply asset mapping tools, and integrate asset mapping into case planning, collaboration, and advocacy. People who work in county and Tribal child welfare, private agencies, nonprofit organizations, and allied professions related to child welfare are welcome to attend.
Event Details:
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Presenter: Dr. Ceema Samimi, PhD, MPA, MSSW, LGSW
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Date and Time: Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 9:00am - 12:00pm
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Location: Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy, 1711 County Road B West, Ste 200N, Roseville, MN 55113
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Registration: Register online
- Free BOSW CEUs available!
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