Renee Armstrong, MPP, MSW, LGSW

Experience

• 

  Minneapolis Public Schools

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2006

  VISTA Volunteer Coordinator, Edison High School
• 

  Southside Family Charter School

  Aug 2006 - Jun 2008

  Program Assistant
• 

  Simpson Housing Services

  Jan 2007 - Nov 2010

  Shelter Advocate

  Carried out essential Shelter duties to ensure safety, accurate record keeping, and program functioning. Assisted diverse clientele, with familiarity and experience in relevant issues such as poverty, homelessness and domestic violence, to provide effective advocacy and support self sufficiency. Maintained confidentiality and caring rapport, while balancing complex situations.

• 

  Hennepin County

  May 2008 - Sept 2008

  Foster Care Licensing - Social Work Intern
• 

  Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, University of Minnesota

  Aug 2008 - Jul 2010

  Research Assistant to Dr. Esther Wattenberg

  Conducted academic and field research for professional Child Welfare publication and early intervention services. Facilitated community partnerships, grant management, and collaborative practices to further policy and best practices outreach.

• 

  Children's Defense Fund

  Aug 2009 - May 2010

  Research and Outreach Assistant

  Engaged in research and outreach for annual Kids Count report; conducted presentations to promote community engagement and legislative advocacy on children and family issues. Worked collaboratively with public, nonprofit, and regional agencies to produce regional report, assessing the barriers, qualifications, and best practices for increased awareness and participation in public work support programs.Continue to serve in outreach and facilitator to support national Youth Advocacy Leadership Training (YALT) initiative. Show less

• 

  Minnesota Alliance With Youth

  Aug 2010 - Aug 2016

  Director of Education & Training, Equity Lead

  Provide support and leadership to statewide National Service AmeriCorps Promise Fellows program. Ensure high quality program implementation, maintain trusted relationships, facilitate relevant, reflective, and interactive training, and carryout continuous evaluation for improvement. Lead statewide event planning and execution to highlight youth service, leadership, and community impact.Serve as equity lead to develop and implement relevant and strategic training and recruitment efforts. Show less

• 

  Minnesota Department of Human Services

  Aug 2016 - Jun 2022

  Lead ongoing training system planning, oversee curriculum development & design, and coordinate cross unit and division collaboration. Lead training team to ensure implementation of policy and research into high quality training experiences. Serve as a unit and division lead for Annual Child Welfare Conference.

  • Program Policy Liaison Lead

    Jan 2021 - Jun 2022

  • Curriculum Development Lead

    Aug 2016 - Jan 2021
• 

  Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA)

  May 2022 - now

  Supervisor of Training Operations and Policy