Inside the State Capitol Building, St. Paul, MN. Image source: Patrick O’Leary/University of Minnesota
Since the Governor’s Task Force on the Protection of Children (or CPS Task Force, for short) began in October, there has been an option on the CPS Task Force’s website to send comments to the CPS Task Force directly. Additionally, in each email sent out by the CPS Task Force, there are directions on how to submit comments to the CPS Task Force. As of their November 19th email, there is now a public input guidance document, which directs those who are interested in submitting comments to focus on the specific issues in which the CPS Task Force is most interested.
The issues highlighted in the document are:
- Screening reports of child abuse
- Family Assessment Response
- Adequacy of resources
- Child welfare training
- Supervision in child welfare
- Early Intervention and or Prevention Services
- Transparency in child welfare
Within each area, the document asks questions to guide public input. For example, questions under “Screening” include “What level of oversight should the state agency provide to county and tribal child welfare agencies in screening of reports of child abuse or neglect?” and “How should prior child protection history be used when screening new reports of abuse or neglect?”
You can answer any or all of the questions posed in the public input guidance document. You can also include general comments if you’d like. To submit your comments, send an email to [email protected].
Upcoming CPS Task Force & Workgroup Meetings
All CPS Task Force meetings—full and workgroup—are open to the public.
The Family Assessment/Adequacy of Resources workgroup will meet tomorrow (Tuesday, November 25) from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Midwest Children’s Resource Center in the Garden View Medical Building, Suite 401, in St. Paul. Seating is limited. However, for this meeting only, you have the option of watching it online. At the time of the meeting, visit http://z.umn.edu/r5v and enter in the login information:
- Meeting number: 626 640 432
- Meeting password: mcrc
The next meeting of the full CPS Task Force is Thursday, December 4, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Room 200 of the State Office Building. Each workgroup will meet following the full CPS Task Force meeting at 1:00 PM in the following rooms of the State Office Building:
- Screening & Transparency—Room 400 North;
- Family Assessment/Adequacy of Resources—Room 500 South; and
- Training & Supervision of Practice—Room 500 North.
