Human Services

Child & Community Service Grants

Website: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/id_000152

Statewide Outcome(s):

Child & Community Service Grants  supports the following statewide outcome(s).

People in Minnesota are safe.

Strong and stable families and communities.

Context:

Children & Community Service grants provide funding to support core safety services for vulnerable children and adults, including response to reports of maltreatment, assessments of safety and risk, case management and other supportive services that help keep children and adults safely in their own homes; and support safe alternative living arrangements such as foster care. Grants provide funding to counties and tribes to purchase or provide these services for children, families and vulnerable adults.

In 2011, 17,716 reports of child abuse and neglect were assessed involving 24,962 children. Of these, 4,589 children were determined to be victims of child maltreatment. In the same year, 11,368 children experienced an out-of-home placement and 1,133 were either adopted or had a permanent transfer of legal custody to a relative.

These grants include state funds and the federal Social Services Block Grant, and serve over 300,000 people annually.

Strategies:

Funding through these grants provides core safety services that focus on preventing or remedying neglect, preserving and rehabilitating families, and providing for community-based care. Services include:

·         Response to reports of child and adult maltreatment, and assessment of safety and risk of harm;

·         Adoption and foster care supports; and

·         Case management and counseling.

Grants provide child protection services to help keep more children out of foster care and safely with their families and to decrease the disproportionate number of children of color in out-of-home placements. They help ensure that vulnerable children and adults are better protected and receive support services in their communities.

Results:

The Department of Human Services monitors the performance of counties and tribes in delivering social services. Minnesota outcomes match or exceed most Federal standards. Efforts to engage families early and collaboratively, and provide evidence-based services with a focus on safety and timely permanency has resulted in improving or maintaining outcomes.

Performance Measures Notes:

All measures are from Minnesota’s Child Welfare Report. Measurements compare 2010 data (Previous) to 2011 data (Current). Child protection statistical reports are posted on the DHS Child protection Publications page: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/id_003712

See also the DHS Child Welfare Dashboard:

http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=dhs16_148137