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. Services may include: - Communicate what happens after a complaint is submitted - Consider all sides of a question in an impartial way - Follow requirements for confidentiality and data privacy - Help to answer questions about rights in foster care - Investigate complaints in a fair and neutral manner - Listen to people in foster care about concerns and complaints - Make recommendations to agencies and workers - Provide information and resources - Write reports to the governor, legislature, and the public

Plans quarterly projects to raise awareness of issues in the foster care system and advocates for youth currently in care. Purpose is to be a voice for former foster youth, promote and educate about the foster care system, and work for positive change. Focuses on: - Advocacy: Youth meet with legislators, judges, attorneys and social workers to address needs and wants of youth in care - Collaboration: Youth meet with other Youth Leadership Councils from around the state to discuss and plan ways to make a change in systems and provide greater community awareness - Community Development: Youth plan community events to celebrate foster youth and raise awareness of the foster care system and what life is like as a youth in care - Leadership: Youth meet weekly to dscuss and plan projects and upcoming events related to foster care awareness and advocacy

A service that prepares youth for independence. Provides guidance and support to youth ages 16-22 who have been in out-of-home placement (i.e., foster care, group homes, juvenile justice placements, or change of custody) and are preparing to find their living situation.

Journey Transitional Living Program Program to establish independent living arrangements and skills training for homeless youth Red Path Program Program created to assist youth leaving placements in foster care, residential treatment, group homes, or other residential care facilities with living skills classes, transition planning, and case management. Includes: - Budgeting and finance - Juvenile justice - Healthy relationships - First impressions - Renter's education - Sexual health - Diversity - Leadership and community development Emergency Youth Hotline Program providing temporary shelter for runaway or homeless youth, free consultation and counseling as well as support, therapy sessions, and assistance communicating with family to resolve conflicts. Will work with county social services to resolve issues and provide referrals for housing and basic needs. Safe Place Offers youth younger than age 18 immediate access to services and shelter any time - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Youth Street Outreach Provides outreach for at-risk youth

A statewide group of current and former foster youth ages 14-23. Focuses on advocacy, changing the system and laws currently in place that affect children and youth in care and their families. Other areas of focus include: - Advocacy: youth meet with legislators, judges, attorneys, and social workers to address the needs and wants of youth in care. - Leadership: youth meet bi-weekly to discuss and plan projects and upcoming events related to foster care awareness and advocacy. - Collaboration: youth meet with other Youth Leadership Councils from around the state to discuss and plan ways to make a change in systems and provide greater community awareness. - Community development: youth plan and participate in community events to celebrate foster youth and raise awareness of the foster care system and what life is like as a youth in care. Youth attend community events where they can share what their local Youth Leadership Council is involved in and learn about other organizations within their community.

Serves youth who have a history of foster care or out of home placement. Provides services that help youth become self-sufficient. Services include: - Case management - Employment assistance - Financial literacy - Housing assistance

Represents foster children only; does NOT work with custody issues - CLC engages in systemic reform benefiting all of Minnesota's foster children. These projects include advocating for policy and legislation regarding children's rights, participating in collaborative working groups focused on children's issues, writing amicus briefs to state and federal appellate courts, serving on statewide and nationwide committees and task forces that address children' issues. - CLC recruits and trains volunteer attorneys to represent foster children in child protection and state wards proceedings and provides ongoing consultation to the attorney - CLC staff works in partnership with a volunteer attorney to provide advocacy for children in foster care in court and legal proceedings. CLC's volunteer attorneys advocate for foster children by ensuring they understand what is happening to them, informing them of their options, and empowering them to have a voice in the decisions that are made about their lives. - The range of issues includes: Court reviews, appropriate placement, permanency planning, transition to adulthood, sibling contacts, and access to critical services including health care, education and financial benefits