Here are some developments in Minnesota’s child protection and foster care programs that we are grateful for this Thanksgiving:
- 10,800 more children annually are getting a visit from a child protection worker than prior to the reforms.
- 1,065 additional vulnerable infants and toddlers are getting scholarships to quality child care programs, with a goal of 3,640 more.
- Many skilled caseworkers and foster parents stayed with counties despite the enormous pressures they faced.
- Hennepin County made a major commitment to program improvements:
- Reached out to the community to rebuild trust
- Expanded its management team and added capable and experienced staff
- Reduced worker turnover and caseload sizes
- Added $13.2 million to the budget with a prevention focus.
It’s a good time to remember where real progress is happening.