Approximately 25 years ago, Minnesota introduced an “alternative response” to the child protection system. The alternative response was initially well-defined and was only offered after the reassurance of an initial safety and risk assessment.
By the time of Governor Dayton’s Task Force on the Protection of Children in 2014, over 70 percent of Child Protection cases were receiving an “alternative response,” and track assignment occurred prior to any safety or risk assignment.
The Task Force recognized that the pendulum had swung too far and course-correction was necessary, noting “it is best to proceed methodically, making thoughtful short-term changes to the current model while examining long-term redesign options.”
Over the last nine years, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has made no meaningful attempt to address these recommendations. Currently, well over 60 percent of cases receive an alternative response and Minnesota remains an outlier.
It’s time to finish the work.
Want to learn more about how you can join our legislative efforts this year? Join us for a toast to celebrate the beginning of the Minnesota state legislative session on February 28 from 5-7 p.m. at St. Paul Brewing Company. We’d love to meet new people interested in joining our efforts, catch up with past volunteers, and provide more details about these efforts at the Capitol. You’ll hear more about how you can become more involved.