Advocacy

• Child maltreatment happens every day across the state. About 200 reports were called into counties each day (76,000 calls per year) in 2021
• Few reports are investigated. More than half of all calls are “screened out” – meaning no further action is taken. Of the calls that are “screened in,” less than half are actually investigated
• Multiple reports are too common. About 20 percent of children in the system have more than one report filed in a 12-month period.
• The state’s case management system (SSIS) is inefficient. One county leader recently said workers spend at least half their time completing documentation in the system – rather than directly serving children and families.
• Substance abuse is a growing concern for neglect. In 2021, about 1,700 children were hospitalized for nonfatal drug overdoses – one third of them were under age 5.
• Each child’s death is preventable. There were 25 children who died from child maltreatment in 2022. Essentially, one child was killed every two weeks. There are many cracks in the system that need to be fixed.

Join us in advocating for stronger protections for at-risk children.

Establish a Supreme Court Council on Child Protection (HF 4727, SF 4761)
Authors: Representative Pinto, Senator Mitchell

Concerned professionals and citizen groups have long advocated for meaningful review and reform of child welfare policies and practices. Forming this Council is authority to suggest statutory changes will improve child welfare in Minnesota. This bill:

• Establishes a Supreme Court Council on Child Protection as part of Minnesota’s Court Improvement Program with the goal of the Council being to develop a comprehensive blueprint to improve Minnesota’s child protection system.  
• Ensures that a dedicated group of stakeholders and policy makers are examining the child protection system and making recommendations for changes to current law to improve outcomes for children.  

Remove Barriers for Reporting Child Maltreatment (HF 4793, SF 4037)
Authors: Representative Nash, Senator Mitchell

The prevention of or obstruction to a mandated reporter’s obligations to report Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) must have consequences to bear. Unreported CAN results in continued unsafe environments for children who are unable to advocate for their own safety. This bill:  

• Prohibits entities that employ mandatory reporters from having any policies that prevent or discourage mandatory or voluntary reporters from reporting suspected or alleged maltreatment of a child.  
• Makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally prevent or attempt to prevent a person mandated to report CAN from reporting.  

Improve Process for Reporting Child Fatalities:  (HF 4697, SF 4877)
Authors: Representative Pinto, Senator Mitchell

The mortality review process for child fatalities or near fatalities is inconsistent and arbitrary. Strict adherence to identified review parameters will yield information for system improvement and avoidance of future death and injury. This bill: 

• Establishes a child mortality review panel to review critical incidents related to child maltreatment with the purpose of the panel being to identify systemic changes to improve child safety and well-being.