Connie Abbott-Foster image

Learn more about Connie Abbott-Foster, the Human Services Consultant for the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy.

Ms. Abbott-Foster has a lifelong career of working with children and families. Her experience includes education, social work, program development, supervision and organizational consulting. She began working for the child welfare training system at the Minnesota Department of Human Services in 2005.

  1. What do you currently do for the Training Academy? I am working post-retirement in program and project consulting with leadership and individual staff members.
  2. Tell us about your education and/or work experience prior to joining the MNCWTA. With degrees in education and sociology and as a licensed social worker, I worked as a service provider and in leadership for government and non-government agencies and in private practice. My positions during the past 5 decades included teaching, creating curriculum and programs, providing direct service to families and children and consulting.
  3. What are you most passionate about professionally? I am passionate about providing opportunities for learning and coaching staff to help them achieve their goals and optimum performance in their work with children and families.  
  4. What are you most passionate about personally? I am a lifelong learner and am passionate about increasing my knowledge and understanding in many areas. In the last several years I have been dedicated to expanding my understanding of diversity, equity, de-centering whiteness and inclusion in my personal life and at the MNCWTA. 
  5. What do you like to do outside of work? I spend my time with my wife, family and friends. 
  6. What else should we know about you? I love to binge-watch television from other countries.