QI/CANS Community Trainer

Position Overview

The Qualified Individuals / Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (QI/CANS) Community Trainer is a University employee at the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA). The University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) established the MN Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA) in partnership with the MN Department of Children, Youth, and Family (DCYF), a new collaborative that focuses on creating impactful, inclusive, and accessible training opportunities to meet the needs of the many MN child welfare workers and agencies.

The QI/CANS Community Trainer, in support of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), prepares clinicians and community members to help reduce the number of children in childcare institutions through a 2-day training program. Training sessions will be delivered based on training needs. Training sessions are typically conducted virtually, with sessions being scheduled at least 6 months in advance.

Job Responsibilities

Facilitation (100%)

• Review the curriculum developed by the MNCWTA to conduct training
• Prepare the appropriate materials needed to conduct the training
• Conduct a 2-day virtual training on Qualified Individuals (QI), applying the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS)
• Ensure learners can do the following after completing the training:
  • Distinguish and explain their role and responsibility as a Qualified Individual (QI)
  • Apply cultural responsiveness in the Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) assessment process
  • Partner with county and tribes, and consult with the family and permanency team members
  • Administer the MN Brief Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment to determine the best setting that would meet the child's needs

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED with two years of experience with communities that are historically and disproportionately represented in child welfare.
• Demonstrated commitment to advocating for an inclusive environment for all backgrounds and identities.
• Certified as a Qualified Individual (QI) or be willing to take the QI training and certification needed to train
• Must possess a Minnesota Brief Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) score of .80 or more
• No connection to or affiliation with any placement setting once employed
• Ability to facilitate course and navigate challenging conversations related to assessment policy and difficult situations

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or a closely related field. We strongly encourage those with lived experience to apply
• Desire to be a part of helping Minnesota's children find appropriate and safe placement options when necessary
• Experience with assessment tools and integrating tools to inform decision-making with families
• Ability to take part in the Train the Trainer process for QI CANS training, including review of curriculum, observation, and co-training onboarding

Institute Overview

The Multidisciplinary Institute for Child Welfare (MICW) is a new organizing structure housing several dynamic research and training entities, including The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW), the Minnesota Linking Information for Kids (Minn-LInK) project, and the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA). Each entity is grant-funded and self-sustaining. During an early phase of strategic planning for CASCW in 2024, the creation of the MICW emerged as an essential task to continue to support the growth and productivity of these entities while also continuing the mission of the School of Social Work and the College of Education and Human Development as it pertains to continued community service, growth, and innovation.

The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) is a research and training center located within the School of Social Work in the College of Education and Human Development on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. CASCW supports the education and training of public child welfare professionals; identifies and examines effective child welfare practice methods, informs the public and policy makers about various child welfare issues, and incorporates research and evaluation findings into the School of Social Work curriculum.
Minn-LInK, an incredibly rich resource within the University and across the state of Minnesota, is an interdisciplinary, integrated, administrative data project used for research and evaluation projects aimed at understanding the experiences and outcomes of children, youth, and families who are multi-system involved. Minn-LInK staff provide research services to internal and external partners through grants and agreements.

The MNCWTA is a partnership between the University's MICW and the MN Department of Children, Youth, and Family (DCYF). The MNCWTA is responsible for the training and professional development of Minnesota's county and tribal child welfare frontline staff and supervisors. The mission is to train, develop, and support the skills, expertise, and well-being of Minnesota's child welfare workforce while nurturing a commitment to equitable child welfare practice.

Department Overview

Founded in 1917 on its Dakota homeland, the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is part of a public, research-intensive university and one of seven administrative units in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). The School offers several graduate and undergraduate educational programs including: a PhD in Social Work; a Master of Social Work; a Master of Education in Youth Development Leadership; a Bachelor of Science in Youth Studies, and undergraduate minors in Family Violence Prevention, Social Justice, and Youth Studies. Underlying all these multidisciplinary programs is a social justice value base and a commitment to the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in our society. The curricula of our educational programs, and faculty research and engagement, intentionally seek to emphasize and expand anti-racist perspectives, social, economic, and racial justice, and decolonization. The School is the home to a variety of labs and centers that actively involve our students, staff, faculty, and community partners, e.g., the Youth Work Learning Lab, the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, the Center for Practice Transformation, and the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy, an innovative partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services that is funded by the state legislature to further develop equitable child welfare practices.

College Overview

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the University's third largest college, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of life. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That's why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

Pay Range: The starting pay for this position is $40.00/hr. Once all training and onboarding are complete, the hourly wage increases to $80.00/hr

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. Please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

The following needs to be included for your application to be considered:

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume or CV

Additional required documentation (if currently available):

1. QI certification documentation
2. Minnesota Brief Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) score of .80 or higher

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).