The Legislative Task Force on Child Protection continued to meet in late 2015 to monitor progress on the completion of tasks assigned to the Department of Human Services during the 2015 legislative session and to hear recommendations for legislative action for the 2016 session.

The October 27th meeting of the Legislative Task Force on Child Protection included testimony from several government agencies to inform the members of programs and services related to children and families that may interface with child protection services.

The eight members of the task force listened to testimony with an ear toward recommendations that they could incorporate into potential 2016 legislation to continue reforming the state child protection system.

Traci LaLiberte provided testimony on the progress of the Professional Development Work Group in developing child protection supervisor competencies and training recommendations, alongside Tracy Crudo, in her new role at DHS as Minnesota Child Welfare Training System Supervisor. Their handout, Child Welfare Competencies – Minnesota’s Child Welfare Competency Model, can be accessed here.

The task force met again November 10, and heard testimony from Jim Koppel, Assistant Commissioner of Child and Family Services at DHS. He discussed the RFP that was in development, which will seek proposals to create a collaborative effort to address racial disparities in out of home placements, particularly for American Indian and African American children. The task force members expressed their concerns that the content of the RFP may not be in keeping with the intention of the funds allocated by the legislature. The RFP has since been published and is available here.

There is also a list of questions and answers related to the RFP.

Proposals are due January 26, 2016, and Koppel stated that they intend to use the $1.5 million allocation to award three to five grants.

Koppel also provided testimony with Jerry Kerber, Head of the Inspector General’s Office at DHS, on the ongoing work of the Foster Care Work Group. There was much discussion about licensing foster homes, which can be a burdensome and costly process for potential foster parents, creating a disincentive to complete the application process. The severe shortage of homes available to children in foster care has heightened awareness of the challenges with the current licensing process, and many recommendations are being discussed in the Foster Care Work Group to streamline the application process and ensure that people are not being denied for reasons that are unrelated to the ability to properly care for the child.

The task force also heard testimony from the Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA). This group has assembled a Child Protection Strategy Work Group to review the recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on the Protection of Children and provide its own input on the feasibility of the proposed changes to child protection policy and practice in Minnesota. Their power point presentation and their report can be accessed on the Task Force Meetings webpage.

Foster Care Work Group

The work of this group and its three subcommittees wrapped up on December 8. At this meeting, the group finalized its report that provides recommendations to the Legislative Task Force related to three areas: recruitment, application and licensing; policies on how children are removed from their home; and improving the outcomes for foster children.

The group anticipates that they will reconvene after the 2016 legislative session to review policy changes and determine new goals for the group.

Professional Development Work Group

Members of this group have revised the Child Welfare Competencies for child protection workers and supervisors and have discussed the components of a Training Academy for all child protection workers.

Minnesota Child Maltreatment Intake, Screening and Response Path Guidelines

An updated version of these guidelines was released in December. Training for the new guidelines took place in October for child protection workers across the state.

The next task force meeting will be held January 19 at 10:00 AM in the State Office Building, Room 10.