Parent Support Specialist (Part-time, NW Minnesota) Opens in a new tab

Reports to: Program Manager Location: Primarily Remote (NW Minnesota) Salary Range: $20-$25, 10-15 hours per week FLSA Status: Nonexempt Position Summary The Parent Support Specialist provides peer support, education, encouragement, and resource navigation to adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers throughout their assigned region of Minnesota. Drawing on personal and professional experience, the Parent Support Specialist builds trusting relationships with caregivers, reduces isolation, and connects families to resources and supports that strengthen their ability to meet the unique needs of the children in their care. This is a relationship-based peer support position. The Parent Support Specialist provides compassionate, trauma-informed support that helps caregivers feel connected, informed, and empowered. The position does not provide case management or clinical services but serves as a trusted peer, offering encouragement, practical guidance, and connections to resources. Lived experience as an adoptive, foster, or kinship caregiver is highly valued because peer support is built on authentic relationships, shared understanding, and mutual respect. The successful candidate is compassionate, organized, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining timely documentation and meeting reporting deadlines. They demonstrate initiative, exercise sound judgment, maintain appropriate professional boundaries, and are comfortable working both independently and as part of a collaborative statewide team. Primary Responsibilities The Parent Support Specialist provides peer support and program services to adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers throughout their assigned region while helping ensure the successful delivery of Families Rising Minnesota programming. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: Provide individualized peer support to adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers through phone calls, email, text messaging, virtual meetings, and in-person contacts. Offer emotional support, practical parenting strategies, encouragement, and information related to adoption, foster care, kinship care, trauma, grief, attachment, identity, and other core issues. Connect caregivers to Families Rising Minnesota services, community resources, and educational opportunities. Build supportive, strengths-based relationships that reduce caregiver isolation and increase access to support. Program & Event Support Provide support for statewide and regional programming by: Facilitating virtual and in-person caregiver support groups. Planning, coordinating, facilitating, and supporting regional family events, caregiver gatherings, trainings, and educational opportunities. Assisting with statewide conferences, support groups, and special events as assigned. Helping create welcoming, inclusive environments where caregivers feel connected and supported. Providing limited outreach within the assigned region to increase awareness of Families Rising Minnesota services and engage caregivers who may benefit from support. Documentation & Administrative Support Maintain accurate documentation of caregiver contacts, services provided, referrals, and case notes. Enter participant information, support hours, and program activities into the organizational database in a timely manner. Complete required documentation and reporting according to organizational timelines. Maintain confidentiality and comply with organizational documentation standards. Participate in regular supervision, staff meetings, trainings, and professional development. Collaborate with Families Rising Minnesota staff to ensure coordinated support for families. Share emerging caregiver needs, resource information, and program feedback with the team. Perform other duties as assigned in support of statewide programming. Additional Information Work Location This is a part-time, exempt, primarily remote position. Employees must reside in Minnesota and be available to report to the Families Rising Minnesota office for in-person staff meetings at least 4 times per year. Evening and weekend hours are required to support programming. Employment is contingent upon completing required background checks, including child protective services and sex offender registry screenings. Families Rising offers a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance, paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and additional paid office closures throughout the year. About Families Rising Founded in 1974, Families Rising (formerly the North American Council on Adoptable Children) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth, and families impacted by foster care, adoption, and kinship care. Families Rising Minnesota provides education, peer support, advocacy, and statewide programming for adoptive, foster, and kinship families across Minnesota. Through support groups, trainings, conferences, family events, and one-on-one support, we help caregivers build connections, strengthen families, and access the resources they need to thrive. We are a small, collaborative team that values flexibility, creativity, compassion, and a shared commitment to supporting Minnesota’s adoptive, foster, and kinship families. #J-18808-Ljbffr Families Rising