Last year we surveyed gubernatorial candidates on child protection issues. One watchful reader asked whether Governor Tim Walz had followed up on his commitments.
In the next two blogs we will review the Governor’s responses, and how they will inform our 2020 legislative agenda.
Governor Walz said he would “support dramatic, across-the-board increases in funding” for child protection, but his budget only included $4.2 million for the Child Welfare Training Academy.
Actually, child welfare funding increased by over $300 million, but only because caseload increases have attracted federal and state entitlement funds.
The Governor can still impact one important underfunded area – services to implement case plans. Without them, other child protection goals can’t be reached. We will encourage the Administration to commit $30 million to plug this gap in 2020.