Minnesota Agencies

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 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 ombudsperson shall, at the end of each biennium, report to the governor and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child welfare and state government concerning the exercise of the ombudsperson's functions during the preceding biennium

Ombudsperson: Misty Coonce (September 2023 - )

The ombudsperson serves in the unclassified service, must be selected without regard to political affiliation, and must be a person highly competent and qualified to work to improve the lives of youth in the foster care system, while understanding the administration and public policy related to youth in the foster care system.

No person may serve as the foster youth ombudsperson while holding any other public office. The foster youth ombudsperson is accountable to the governor and may investigate decisions, acts, and other matters related to the health, safety, and welfare of youth in foster care to promote the highest attainable standards of competence, efficiency, and justice for youth who are in the care of the state. The Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson shall receive administrative support from the commissioner of administration under Minn. Stat. 16B.371.