In 2015 the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $1.5 million annually to address racial disparities in child protection and foster care caseloads. Recently the African American Work Group on Child Protection, a coalition of North Minneapolis service providers, received a grant for three new ventures.
The first is a pilot project to develop cultural navigators. Their role will be to help families get the services identified in their case plan and meet their court obligations, and also facilitate communication between them and their caseworkers. The Neighborhood Hub, a grass-roots service provider, will implement the program, with administrative support from NorthPoint Inc., a respected community institution.
The management of this project is excellent and Hennepin County is coordinating well with the community. As a result, the prospects for meaningful results are unusually good.