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The Realizing the Educational Achievement of Children experiencing Homelessness (REACH) project is a shelter and street-based program that promotes school stability and academic success of homeless children and youth. The Fostering Connections program helps promote education stability for students in out-of-home care.

Foster parents play a crucial role in supporting children and their families through challenging times. Information and support is available for foster families, including: * Steps to become a foster parent * Licensing information and resources * Training for foster parents * Programs for current or former foster youth moving to adulthood * Permanency planning and supports for children * Child foster care resources

Provides housing and supportive services to individuals and families who are homeless or in need of safe housing. Transitional housing helps people live independently, address issues that led to homelessness or kept them homeless, rebuild their support network and transition into permanent housing. The length of time a person can use the program is limited. MORE INFORMATION Healing Spirit House provides supportive, safe, positive, drug-free, alcohol-free environment and in-house services. Residents learn independent living skills through group meetings and daily experiential learning such as assigned household chores and planning and preparing nightly house dinners. Staff coordinate educational and vocational services, including enrollment in GED services and setting educational and career goals. When a youth nears his time to age out of the system, the Case Manager assists him to find housing, connects him to resources that provide jobs skills training, additional education, or other employment opportunities depending on which direction the youth wants to go. The Case Manager stays in close contact with youth to smooth the transition into independent living.

An ombudsman is a neutral party who investigates consumer complaints. They work with both the consumer and the organization to resolve consumer issues and improve customer service. MORE INFORMATION The office handles complaints from anyone, prioritizing concerns from young people about their rights, care, safety, and placement in Minnesota foster care, including youth in Extended Foster Care and those who have recently aged out of care. Handles complaints for people in foster care regarding: * Services receiving or should be receiving * Rights that are being violated or ignored * Concerns about living conditions Listens to people in foster care about concerns * Considers all sides of a question in an impartial way * Provides information and resources * Helps to answer questions about rights in foster care * Investigates complaints in a fair and neutral manner * Makes recommendations to agencies and workers * Writes reports to the governor, legislature, and the public * Follows requirements for confidentiality and data privacy * Communicates what happens after a complaint is submitted

Program that works on behalf of individuals and/or groups to make sure that they receive the benefits and services for which they are eligible MORE INFORMATION Provides free legal advocacy for foster care youth in Minnesota. Children's Law Center advocates for foster children through systemic reform and provides free legal representation services to foster children

Legal aid program that offers legal counseling and/or representation for low-income individuals, typically in the areas of disability law, elder law and family law Free or low cost legal services help people who are unable to afford a lawyer get access to the court system. MORE INFORMATION Provides free legal advocacy for foster care youth in Minnesota. Appointed by the court to provide legal representation to children who are either wards of the state or have been removed from their homes because they are in need of protection. Also provides legal representation to foster children who request help.