The commitment to child welfare reform was demonstrated in the Minnesota legislature this year mainly through its renewal of the Legislative Task Force on Child Protection, which was scheduled to expire at the close of this year’s session. The renewal included new tasks for the group, which will expand to twelve bipartisan members. First, the legislature requested a study on the potential situations in which social workers may remove a child from a home, a practice currently being done exclusively by law enforcement. They also would like clarification on the definition of “substantial child endangerment,” which they would like to consider for the 2017 legislative session.
The Task Force is also tasked with establishing a work group to review the current use of the Minnesota Assessment of Parenting Children and Youth (MAPCY) tool in determining payment to foster care providers, with a report due to the Task Force by December 1, 2016. Several providers have expressed their frustrations with the current payment structure, indicating that the rates are far too low and do not cover basic costs associated with caring for children in their homes.
Training on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Foster parents will now be required to receive at least one hour of training on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) within the first year of licensure, and may include additional training on FASD as part of their annual training requirements. The Minneapolis StarTribune provides additional information on the importance of understanding FASD as a caregiver.
Northstar for Children
The monthly rates paid to foster parents through the Northstar Care for Children program will increase by 15% for FY18 and FY19, with an additional allocation in the Supplemental Budget.
