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The Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson handles complaints from anyone, prioritizing concerns from young people about their rights, care, safety, and placement in Minnesota foster care, including youth in Extended Foster Care and those who have recently aged out of care
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OOFY Quarterly Snapshot
We are excited to share our second OOFY quarterly report. From October through December:
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We reviewed 28 concerns from 11 counties.
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We had direct contact with Fosters* in 21% of cases.
*OOFY uses the term “Foster," following the example of those with lived experience, to refer to people with experience in foster care, no matter their age or whether they reunited with family, were adopted, or aged out of foster care.
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Monday, March 3rd is Foster Child and Youth Day on the Hill, presented by MN Youth Leadership Councils. OOFY is excited to attend this event; stop by and say hi! For more information click the button below.
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During Black History Month, OOFY celebrates and honors African American Fosters and advocates in child welfare. We recognize the contributions and resilience of Black Fosters and families while working to address systemic racial inequities that continue to impact systems-involved young people.
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OOFY is excited to welcome Ziigwan Frazer as a temporary Foster Youth Outreach and Engagement Specialist.
Ziigwan Frazer (she/her) is thrilled to join the Office of Foster Youth Ombudsperson as a Foster Youth Outreach and Engagement Specialist. With nine years in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, and aging out of care, Ziigwan is deeply committed to advocating for and uplifting Fosters through local, state, and federal efforts.
Previously, Ziigwan served as the Policy & Advocacy Manager at Foster Advocates, where she led the organization's Community Board, co-facilitated the Minnesota Promise campaign, and contributed to advancing legislative initiatives. Ziigwan holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Criminal Justice from Bemidji State University.
Outside of her professional work, Ziigwan enjoys spending time barefoot outdoors with her children, relaxing on a beach with watermelon, or reading Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site on repeat.
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We are seeking support for a bill of rights for foster youth!
Did you know? Minnesota is one of only 5 states that does not have a foster youth bill of rights in statute, code, or agency policy. The goal of this bill is to provide a clear, consolidated bill of rights that ensures that everyone, in every county in Minnesota, is operating from the same standard to ensure clarity on the protections for young people who are often the most vulnerable.
Stay tuned for more updates from us as this bill continues developing!
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