The final report and recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on the Protection of Children were issued yesterday. The recommendations are organized into short-, mid-, and long-term reforms, each preceded by a short description of the challenges faced in each area and the goals of the Task Force in general. Over the next few weeks we will be highlighting each section of the final recommendations in more detail. This post provides a broad overview of the final report as well as a summary of the bills at the legislature that would extend child welfare reform efforts for another year.
In the report’s preamble, the Task Force states that it is not enough to simply review numbers, services, and track assignments; rather, there needs to be a greater focus on “whether the intervention provided by the system made a difference in the child’s life” (p. 1). Recognizing that each child protection response needs to be tailored to meet the safety needs of each child involved, the Task Force also asks that there be a conscious shift away from the debate over whether we continue with our two-track child protection response system. The Task Force also emphasizes the need for case managers to be able to take on the dual role of both “protector” and “helper” for effective child protection work.
The preamble also stressed the importance of parental support as a way to promote child safety and well-being:
In summary, our goal is a child protection system that is child-focused. Where the safety and the best interests of the child is paramount, but where we never lose sight of the fact that parent
support is often the most effective way to provide for the child’s wellbeing. That we need a
system that responds differently to different needs and not be wed to singular or dual tracks. (p. 2)
The report’s conclusion includes a recognition by the Task Force that child welfare reform cannot just be focused on the front end (i.e., intake, screening, and track assignment), but that there is a need to look critically at Minnesota’s foster care system as well as services available for prevention, early intervention, harm reduction, early childhood, mental health, homeless and parenting youth, and father engagement.
Future Reform Efforts
With the submission of the final report and recommendations, the Task Force is officially expired. However, the Task Force has repeatedly stated—in full Task Force meetings, in each workgroup meeting, and in each Task Force report—that true child welfare reform cannot be accomplished in just a few short months. To that end, all four legislative members of the Task Force have bills that would, in one form or another, extend child welfare reform efforts for at least one more year.
Senate File 1876
Senators Julie Rosen and Kathy Sheran have authored a bill that would extend the current Task Force through March 31, 2016. This bill, SF 1876, would require the Task Force to continue reviewing Minnesota’s child protection system, but also allow the Task Force to begin looking into issues related to adverse childhood experiences, areas in which improvements are needed in order to protect children (presumably including areas outside Minnesota’s child protection system), and needs of children and youth who run away or are pushed out of their homes. Moreover, the extended Task Force would also be required to evaluate the effects of any 2015 statutory changes affecting child protection. Their preliminary report and recommendations would be due to the Governor by September 30, 2015, and their final report and recommendations by March 31, 2016.
SF 1876 will be given its second reading when the Senate reconvenes on April 7, 2015.
House File 827
The Senate bill’s companion in the House, HF 827 (authored by Rep. Joe Mullery and supported by Rep. Ron Kresha), was initially a bill to extend the Task Force as well. However, as of March 23, 2015, the bill was modified to instead create a new legislative task force on child protection. This new task force’s responsibilities would be to:
- Review the efforts being made to implement the recommendations of the Governor’s Task Force on the Protection of Children;
- Expand the efforts into related areas of the child welfare system; and
- Identify additional areas within the child welfare system that need to be addressed by the legislature.
Additionally, this task force would also be given the go-ahead to provide oversight and monitoring of efforts by other state agencies to work with the Department of Human Services in order to assure child safety and well-being, as well as efforts by DHS to reduce risk of maltreatment and promote healthy development through the use of best practices. A final report would be due on February 1, 2016, and would include progress reports, additional legislative recommendations, and funding needs. The actual expiration of the legislative task force would be the last day of the 2016 legislative session.
HF 827 was given its second reading on March 23, 2015.
