Who we are:  

Ampersand Families provides permanency and adoption services to older youth and families who face barriers to equity in child welfare, and champions systemic changes that advance belonging, dignity and hope.  

Ampersand Families strives to strategically address systemic inequity and barriers within the child welfare system, specifically for older youth, youth of color, sibling groups, and relatives and kin. We are seeking professionals who understand the profound impact that child welfare intervention has on the lives of children, youth and families.  

Why you’ll love working here:  

Ampersand Families is committed to doing our part to create a more equitable child welfare system.   

We provide equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, nationality, ethnic background, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, marital status, socio-economic status, status regarding public assistance, political affiliation, veteran status, other non-visible differences, and other protected attributes.  

Ampersand Families is proud to be an employer of choice with an organizational culture of excellence that embraces continual growth and learning, as well as collegial support and connection. We employ professionals who champion our core values of equity, belonging, dignity, hope, integrity, and leadership.  

Pay & Benefits  

Salary: $48,500-$62,000  

We are committed to equitable hiring practices which includes offering the highest starting salary based on our agency’s compensation philosophy, and we do not engage in salary negotiations at hiring. 

Ampersand Families has a competitive benefit package including Health, Dental, Vision, Life, and Long- term Disability Insurance, Simple IRA Plan, 20 Days of PTO (accrued per year; increases with each year of employment), 10 floating holidays plus Juneteenth and every other Election Day as office holidays, Paid Parental Leave, and an Emergency Medical Benefit bank for short term medical leave (8 days per calendar year, prorated based on start date).  

Before accepting an offer, candidates are given an opportunity to meet with current staff to get a further sense of the organizational culture and to ask any questions they may have.  

What you’ll be doing:   

The Youth Focused Permanency Specialist provides a broad array of child-specific recruitment, adoption preparation, and support services for Minnesota foster care youth, primarily ages 10-18. Youth Focused Permanency Specialists work with youth and their county teams to achieve permanency through adoption and support long term positive relationships with their relatives and kin. This is a professional position requiring a significant amount of self-direction, irregular hours, and travel throughout the state of Minnesota. 

• Provide child specific recruitment services to a caseload of 10 youth. 

• Utilize strategies to identify prospective families, starting with relatives and others already known to the youth. Similar strategies are also used to identify natural supports who can provide ongoing support to youth.  

• Prepare and engage youth to find their voice in permanency decisions being made on their behalf.  

• Participate as part of a team of professionals to achieve permanency for youth. 

• Gather information on a youth’s history to assist them in coming to understand their own life’s narrative by creating a Lifebook with youth.  

• Manage documentation required to meet agency and DCYF requirements for client services, including frequent case noting, case plan summaries, managing and redacting large case files, and comprehensive written profiles about a youth’s history, present life, and personality. 

• Frequent and in-depth consultation with supervisor and peers to develop strategies, promote creativity and maintain balance in this position which has a potential for higher stress and emotional impact due to constant exposure to stories and painful events in youths’ lives. 

• Visit each youth client in-person monthly. Youth may be in placements anywhere in the state of MN. Travel may include occasional overnight stays. 

What we’re looking for: 

• High school diploma or GED required. Bachelor’s degree preferred. 

• Experience working toward permanency in Minnesota, foster care, direct family support and crisis intervention, children’s mental health and/or trauma-informed care preferred. 

• Skills identified by youth for prospective Permanency Specialist: “They must be able to connect with teens, ability to listen to youth, to be articulate. They can’t fear teenagers and be willing to see ‘the dark side’ like when a teen is angry or stubborn or don’t want to listen or say stuff they don’t mean. They must have the ability to persevere for permanency even when others on the team don’t believe it.” 

• Ability to be self-directed as well as to work as part of a team. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 

• Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize multiple projects and deadlines, attentive to detail, and consistent in meeting goals and deadlines. 

• Personal and professional commitment to Ampersand Families’ mission, vision, and goals and to advancing the Agency’s commitment to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices. 

• Competency with a variety of technology and computer programs (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 

• Valid driver’s license, insurance coverage, and clean driving record. BCA and social services fingerprint background check required. 

Application Process:   

As a part of our equitable hiring practices, we do not require a cover letter.    

An initial review of resumes will begin on July 14, 2025; however, the position will remain open until filled.