MNCWTA Community Trainer: Preparing for Court

University of Minnesota; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Minnesota is seeking a Preparing for Court Community Trainer to join the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy. This University employee will train child welfare workers using the developing preparing for court curriculum, focusing on courtroom etiquette, legal standards, and objective testimony to advocate for children and families.

This temporary/casual role is non-benefits eligible with hours varying throughout the year and potential renewal for up to two years.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED combined with a minimum of five years of professional experience in child welfare.
• Demonstrate professional county-level child welfare experience within courtroom settings.
• Demonstrate a proven track record in instructional training and group facilitation.
• Ability to accommodate diverse learning styles and travel statewide.
• Openness to feedback and coaching, and collaboration with co-facilitators.

Responsibilities

• Provide interactive training to child welfare professionals
• Interact with learners to enhance growth and development
• Review curriculum content for training days
• Review any student pre-requisite or course assignments
• Prepare training rooms as necessary for training (room setup, computer set up, etc.)
• Work with the Training and Development team in the Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions
• Actively participate in feedback and coaching sessions with the Training and Development team
• Actively incorporate recommendations and feedback from TOTs and coaching sessions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field

Direct lived experience within the child welfare system

Job description

About the Job

The Preparing for Court Community Trainer is a University employee at the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA) which is located under the Multidisciplinary Institute for Child Welfare (MICW), which also houses several additional dynamic research and training entities, including the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW), and the Minnesota Linking Information for Kids (Minn-LInK) project. The Preparing for Court Community Trainer is a critical member of the training & delivery community training team and will be training child welfare workers using the developed preparing for court curriculum. This new training curriculum has been designed to support child welfare workers in cultivating the essential skills, confidence, and practical strategies necessary for navigating complex court proceedings effectively including acquiring essential skills in courtroom etiquette, legal standards, and objective testimony to advocate effectively for children and families. This non-benefits eligible position will work a variety of hours (depending on the scheduling and trainer availability) over the course of the year and will fill out timesheets for the hours worked. Typically, training schedules are set six months in advance. This role is temporary/casual and may be renewed for up to two years. Applicants must reside in the state of Minnesota. This position conducts trainings virtually and in person, successful applicants may need to travel to the Metro and other MNCWTA Learning Centers.

Job Responsibilities

Classroom Training: (75%)

• Provide interactive training to child welfare professionals


• Interact with learners to enhance growth and development

Classroom Preparation: (20%)

• Review curriculum content for training days


• Review any student pre-requisite or course assignments


• Prepare training rooms as necessary for training (room setup, computer set up, etc.)

Training of Trainers/Feedback/Coaching: (5%)

• Work with the Training and Development team in the Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions


• Actively participate in feedback and coaching sessions with the Training and Development team


• Actively incorporate recommendations and feedback from TOTs and coaching sessions

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED combined with a minimum of fi ve years of professional experience in child welfare.


• Demonstrate professional county-level child welfare experience within courtroom settings.


• Demonstrate a proven track record in instructional training and group facilitation.


• Ability to effectively accommodate and engage diverse learning styles within a classroom setting.


• Maintain the willingness and availability to travel statewide as needed.


• Demonstrate openness to receiving, integrating, and applying professional feedback and coaching.


• Collaborate effectively with co-facilitators to maintain a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all participants.


• Evidence of attention to diverse identities in teaching or professional experience, and the commitment to support the University's work in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW) or an equivalent degree in a closely related field.


• Direct lived experience within the child welfare system.


• Demonstrated capability to deliver instructional curricula.


• Engage effectively with diverse cohorts of learners across varied backgrounds, communities, identities, and abilities.


• Comprehensive knowledge of child welfare practice alongside extensive courtroom experience within the state of Minnesota.


• Proven ability to facilitate culturally responsive discussions addressing the systemic needs of children and families across Minnesota.

About the Department

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.

The Department Overview

Founded in 1917 on 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 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 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 and Benefits

The hourly range for this position is $40.00/hour. Upon completion of onboarding, pay rate will increase to $80.00/hr.

Time Appointment: As arranged with the department

Position Type: Temp/Casual

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

Diversity

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

Employment Requirements

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.

About University of Minnesota

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 Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.