This post was updated on 7-15-24 to include a link to the Child Welfare Information Gateway's factsheet, which provides guidance on leaving your child home alone. Please keep in mind that this is intended only to provide information, not to advise or provide any kind of guidance. If you need specific guidance on if you [...]
Guest blogger: Kayla Hinrichs In the December 2015 article “Detectives unearth long-lost links for kids needing adoption,” reporter Erin Adler from the Star Tribune highlights a semi-recent phenomenon that expands resources for social workers searching for permanency and supportive caregivers for children within the child welfare system. This article discusses how social media and other [...]
In the wake of the tragic death of Vermont child protection worker Lara Sobel, CASCW would like to take a moment to discuss workplace safety and the implications of secondary traumatic stress for workers and their supervisors in the field. The field of social work can be challenging and can impact us emotionally and physically. [...]
Yesterday at 11 AM, Minnesota Public Radio's The Daily Circuit hosted a discussion of Minnesota's child protection system. Guests were Dr. Mark Hudson, Medical Director at the Midwest Children's Resource Center, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota; and Lori Whittier, Managing attorney in the Child Protection Division, Hennepin County Attorney's Office. Dr. Hudson is also [...]
The second meeting of the Child Protection Task Force. Image Source: WDIO/'Northlanders Work To Improve MN Child Protective Services' The Governor's Task Force on the Protection of Children has been in effect for nearly one month. They have until December 31 of this year to report preliminary recommendations to the legislature and the governor—that's only [...]
"The abuse of any child in Minnesota is one child too many. No child should have to suffer from the violence or neglect of a family member or other adult. I look forward to the recommendations of this new Task Force, and I urge the Legislature to act on them in January." —Governor Dayton On [...]
Governor Mark Dayton announcing an executive order regarding Minnesota's child protection system. Source: Tom Scheck/MPR News Over the last few months the Star Tribune and other media outlets have put Minnesota's child protection system in the spotlight, highlighting concerns surrounding the low screen-in rates of reports of alleged child maltreatment as well as the death [...]
This post is in response to the Star Tribune opinion article written by Joanna Woolman and the comments that followed Ms. Woolman's article. A version of this blog post has been submitted to the Star Tribune as a commentary. This post was edited at 3:29 PM, 9/12/14, to clarify current DHS policy. I appreciate Joanna [...]
