Child protection, foster care, adoption: News, initiatives, reports, work groups

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Child Safety and Permanency Division

• COVID-19 Emergency Background Studies: Guidance for Permanency for Foster Children (PDF)
• Interim guidance on prioritizing child safety and conducting visits during COVID-19 pandemic (PDF)
• FAQs: CARES Act economic stimulus payments for children in foster care (PDF)
• FAQs: Foster Care in the Time of COVID-19 (PDF)
• Parent-Child Visitation Guidance for COVID-19 Pandemic DHS-7398 (PDF)
• Information on COVID-19 vaccination for children and youth in foster care 

The Child Welfare Data Dashboard is intended to provide information to the public as well as county and tribal decision-makers on  nine state measures and seven federal measures to monitor the status of children served by Minnesota's child welfare system.

Maltreatment reports provides information on children who are removed from their homes and placed in the care of  social service agencies. These reports highlight efforts to ensure and promote children's safety, permanency and well-being. 

• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2021, DHS-5408N (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2020, DHS-5408M (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2019, DHS-5408L (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2018, DHS-5408K (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2017, DHS-5408J (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2016, DHS-5408I (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2015 DHS-5408H (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Welfare Report 2014 DHS-5408G (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Welfare Report 2013 DHS-5408F (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Welfare Report 2012 DHS-5408E (PDF)

This annual report provides information on children placed in out-of-home care, primarily family foster homes, in Minnesota. It highlights work happening across the state to ensure and promote children's safety, permanency and well-being.

• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report 2021, DHS-5804Na (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report, 2020, DHS-5408Ma (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report, 2019, DHS-5408La (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report, 2018, DHS-5408Ka (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report, 2017, DHS-5408Ja (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report, 2016, DHS-5408Ia (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report, 2015, DHS-5408Ha (PDF)

The task force reviews and assesses how the Minnesota child protection and criminal justice system handles child maltreatment cases, making recommendations for improvement. 

• Minnesota Child Maltreatment Intake, Screening and Response Path Guidelines DHS-5144 (PDF)
• Minnesota's Best Practices for Family Assessment and Family Investigation DHS-7059 (PDF)
• Minnesota's Best Practices for Facility Investigation DHS-7593 (PDF)
• Minnesota's Best Practices Guide for Responding to Prenatal Exposure to Substance Use DHS-7605 (PDF)
• Minnesota's Best Practice Response to the Co-occurrence of Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence DHS-3490 (PDF)
• Screening for Trauma in the Child Welfare System (PDF) 
• Legislative Report: 2017-2018 Child Welfare Disparity Grants Evaluation Report DHS-7856 (PDF)

• Minnesota Child Welfare Disparities DHS-6056 (PDF)
• Minnesota Child Welfare Report 2018 DHS-5408K (PDF)
• Minnesota Child Welfare Report 2014 DHS-5408G (PDF)
• Minnesota Child Welfare Report 2013 DHS-5408E (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report 2018 DHS-5408Ka (PDF)

• Minnesota Child and Family Services Plan 2025-2029 (PDF)
• Minnesota Final Report on Child and Family Services Plan 2020-2024 (PDF)
• Minnesota Child and Family Services Plan 2020-2024 DHS-4465C-ENG (PDF) describes plans for improving outcomes for children and families in the child welfare system.
• Minnesota Annual Progress and Services Report (MN APRS) FY 2024 (PDF)
• Minnesota Annual Progress and Services Report (MN APRS) FY 2023 (PDF)
• Minnesota Annual Progress and Services Report (MN APRS) FY 2022 (PDF)
• Minnesota Annual Progress and Services Report (MN APRS) FY 2021 (PDF)
• Minnesota Annual Progress and Services Report  (MN APRS) FY 2020(PDF)

• Preventing child maltreatment by promoting health and well-being for Minnesota families DHS-3922 (PDF)
• Child protection in Minnesota: Keeping children safe, DHS-4735 (PDF)
• Minnesota Citizen Review Panels: Reaching out to protect children, DHS-5684 (PDF)
• Parent Support Outreach Program, DHS-3921 (PDF)
• Safe Place for Newborns law keeps infants safe, DHS-6504 (PDF)

• Adoption and Concurrent Permanency Planning: Working together to help families, DHS-4923 (PDF) 
• Adoption: Finding families for Minnesota's waiting children, DHS-4746  (PDF) 
• Adoption information, support, training and referral for families, DHS-4925 (PDF)
• Northstar Care for Children: Encouraging safe, permanent homes for children, DHS-6736 (PDF)

• Foster care: Temporary out-of-home care for children, DHS-4760 (PDF)
• Concurrent Permanency Planning: Reducing time in foster care, DHS-4926 (PDF)
• Northstar Care for Children: Encouraging safe, permanent homes for children, DHS-6736 (PDF)

The National Youth in Transition Database collects information on youth in foster care, including sex, race, ethnicity, date of birth, and foster care status. It also collects information about independent living services that are provided to youth ages 14 up to 21 and the outcomes of  youth who have aged out of foster care. Below are snapshots of outcomes for foster youth cohorts that Minnesota has been tracking.

• Minnesota 2011-2015 foster youth outcomes (PDF)
• Minnesota 2014-2018 foster youth outcomes (PDF)
• Minnesota 2017-2022 foster youth outcomes (PDF)

• Minnesota Citizen Review Panel 2023 Annual Report (PDF)
• Minnesota Citizen Review Panel 2022 Annual Report (PDF)
• Minnesota Citizen Review Panel 2021 Annual Report (PDF)
• Minnesota Citizen Review Panel 2020 Annual Report (PDF)
• Minnesota Citizen Review Panel 2019 Annual Report (PDF)

The DHS Child Trafficking and Exploitation Work Group met from October 2017- October 2019 to develop a more effective child welfare system response to trafficking and exploitation. More than 150 collaborative partners and survivor subject matter experts from around the state participated. The work group now meets quarterly to monitor implementation and co-create solutions to upcoming needs related to training, resources and policy changes. There is broad stakeholder involvement in implementation and ongoing development of child welfare policy, practice and training. For further information about the Child Trafficking and Exploitation Work Group DHS-7641B (PDF). To learn more contact dhs.safeharbor@state.mn.us.

The Governor's Task Force on the Protection of Children was created to advise the governor and Minnesota Legislature on system and practice improvements in the child protection and welfare system at all levels of government.