Training & Outreach Specialist, FosterPower (Lived-Experience Required)

Bay Area Legal Services' FosterPower program seeks to fill a temporary, full-time (for 18 months) Training & Outreach Specialist position available to work remotely in Florida. (Eligible for benefits).

Created by Bay Area Legal Services, FosterPower is an award-winning free app and website giving Florida's foster youth access to easy, digestible information about their benefits, protections, and legal rights (independent living, medical health, education, the court process, placement, monetary allowance, and more). It also includes 30+ short-form videos sharing the experiences of former youth in foster care. In addition, FosterPower provides in-person and virtual training for youth in foster care and child welfare professionals on children's legal rights while they remain in care.

FosterPower received a new grant to help expand its program across Florida!

The Training & Outreach Specialist is a new and critical position that will support and grow FosterPower's program throughout Florida. Using effective training programs and outreach strategies, this role has a significant focus on connecting directly with children and young adults, and involves delivering training programs to youth in and aging out of foster care and child welfare professionals such as case managers, foster parents, child protective investigators, community-based care agencies, and more.

The role also involves conducting training events, coordinating presentations/exhibits at local and national conferences, and building partnerships with child welfare organizations and professionals. Travel is expected once each month (approximately 2-3 days at a time) across the state to conduct in-person events, training sessions, and network building, as well as organizing virtual training, and promoting this work.

This position reports to FosterPower's legal director and collaborates closely with the FosterPower team.  The Training & Outreach Specialist supports staff who are facilitating or directly providing legal services to low income clients.

NOTE: The Training & Outreach Specialist is a grant-funded position with a term of employment to end after approximately 18 months or no later than November 30, 2026.

Applicants seeking employment with us should understand and share our commitment to the Bay Area Legal mission and vision, and be willing to abide by the core values of Bay Area Legal Services.

Office Location

Florida Remote

• Must be a Florida resident
• Must attend a one-day in-person orientation at the firm's main office (Ybor City)
• Monthly travel throughout Florida is required (approximately 2-3 days)
• Working in person at a firm office location is not required
• Some travel to the firm's Tampa offices is expected
• Some travel out of state is expected.

Illustrative Duties

• Willing and comfortable sharing your personal experiences in the foster care system.
• Organize, plan, and manage virtual and in-person training sessions and outreach events for all non-attorney training.
• Network and collaborate with children and young adults in foster care and key youth-focused stakeholders across Florida.
• Work with the legal director to schedule attendance, presentations, and exhibits at local and national conferences.
• Work with the legal director to coordinate and engage FosterPower's Florida advisory board members.
• Ability to travel at least once monthly (2-3 days) to attend/conduct various training, events, etc.
• Coordinate event logistics, including scheduling, venue setup, and participant registration.
• Engage with partner organizations during events to foster a positive and supportive environment.
• Promote training and outreach events on social media and other communication channels to ensure high engagement and participation.
• Assist with FosterPower's communication efforts, including social media, flyers, newsletters, etc.
• Organize and attend outreach events, conferences, etc. to promote FosterPower's mission.
• Perform administrative duties such as overseeing scheduling, mailings, printing, promo items, etc.
• Prepare and submit program and expense reports monthly.
• Support FosterPower's program activities as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Applicants must have lived experience as a former child or young adult in Florida's foster care system
• Passionate about FosterPower's mission and values
• Comfortable presenting and training for large groups in-person and virtually

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects at once
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work independently, think creatively and problem-solve
• Ability to collaborate with a team
• Strong written and verbal skills and ability to write and create content
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products (i.e., Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Quick ability to learn new technology and software (i.e., Slack, Airtable, Zoom)
• 15% travel required – minimum once monthly (2-3 days) to attend/conduct various training, events, etc.
• Ability to travel to outreach and training sites as required by grant objectives
• Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and ability to rent and drive vehicles

Desirable Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience working with children and young adults
• Experience within the child welfare system through direct lived experience, or professional work is preferred
• Professional experience in leadership training, youth or student organizations/groups, legislation, or policies
• Experience with youth advocacy or youth organizing within the child welfare system
• Understanding of child welfare issues and policy
• Experience planning, leading events, and promotion of events using various methods including social media and other tools
• Experience writing and facilitating curriculum and training
• Experience managing projects
• Bilingual in English/Spanish is a plus but not required

Compensation & Benefits

• Minimum salary $50,600/year (increases based on relevant experience)
• Comprehensive benefits package: 4% match for the 403b retirement plan with immediate vesting; Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability coverage; and more
• Generous time-off and work-life balance: 13 paid holidays, 3 weeks’ vacation for the 1st year of employment, and 37.5-hour workweek
• Reimbursement for travel expenses (mileage, etc.)
• See all benefits here: https://bals.org/careers#benefits

This position requires successful completion of a level II background screening based on the required duties and responsibilities.

How to Apply

• Complete the brief application form below.

Bay Area legal Services is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, or veteran. 

About FosterPower

FosterPower is a movement to improve the lives and futures of youth in foster care by creating access to information on their benefits, protections, and legal rights.

Nonprofit law firm Bay Area Legal Services in Tampa, FL, launched FosterPower, an award-winning free app and website giving Florida's foster youth access to easy, digestible information about their benefits, protections, and legal rights (independent living, medical health, education, the court process, placement, monetary allowance, and more). It also includes 30+ short-form videos sharing the experiences of former youth in foster care. In addition, FosterPower provides in-person and virtual training for youth in foster care and adults (child welfare professionals, judges, attorneys, foster parents, etc.) on children's legal rights while they remain in care.

Since launching in May 2023, FosterPower has reached over 4,200 app downloads, 22,000 website users, 200,000 video views, and trained over 500 youth in foster care and adults (child welfare professionals, judges, attorneys, foster parents, etc.) on children's legal rights while they remain in care. FosterPower's impact has garnered praise from members of Congress; it has earned recognition from various national and statewide media outlets, including NPR's All Things Considered, theSkimm, The Annie E. Casey Foundation blog, Tampa Bay Business Journal, Business Observer, and several news channels throughout Florida; and it has received multiple awards, such as the 2024 Tampa Bay Inno Awards, 2024 American Legal Technology Awards (Runner up), 2024 InnovAction Award by the College of Law Practice Management, and the 2023 Florida's Children First "Outstanding Non-Profit Champion for Children" Award.

This initiative is the first of its kind nationwide. In 2025 and the coming years, FosterPower plans to add a human trafficking section with companion training, expand in Florida with additional statewide training, and replicate in other states across the US.

There are over 23,000 children in Florida's overburdened child welfare system—over 390,000 across the United States—and many of them do not know their benefits, protections, and legal rights—until now!

*FosterPower is a program created and managed by Bay Area Legal Services.

Brief Application Form