Minnesota Statutes 260C.81 – Organization of the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson
The foster youth ombudsperson may select, appoint, and compensate out of available funds assistants and employees to perform the ombudsperson’s responsibilities, including intake, investigation, administrative support, legal advocacy, and other support necessary to assist foster youth. The foster youth ombudsperson and full-time staff are members of the Minnesota State Retirement Association. The foster youth ombudsperson may delegate to staff members any of the ombudsperson’s authority or duties except the duty of formally making recommendations to an agency or reports to the Office of the Governor or to the legislature. The Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson shall provide outreach, resources, and assistance to youth in foster care by directly engaging with youth in residential treatment facilities, group homes, and family foster homes. The Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson shall receive administrative support from the commissioner of administration under section 16B.371.
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 260C.81
- Agency: means the responsible social services agency or a licensed child-placing agency. See Minnesota Statutes 260C.007
- Foster care: means 24-hour substitute care for a child for whom a responsible social services agency has placement and care responsibility and:
(1) who is placed away from the child's parent or guardian in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities not excluded in this subdivision, child care institutions, and preadoptive homes;
(2) who is colocated with the child's parent or guardian in a licensed residential family-based substance use disorder treatment program as defined in subdivision 22a; or
(3) who is returned to the care of the child's parent or guardian from whom the child was removed under a trial home visit pursuant to section 260C. See Minnesota Statutes 260C.007
- state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44