St. Paul, Minn.— It was with a heavy heart that the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (the Council) received the news of the mass shootings that took place in Monterey Park, CA on January 21, and in Half Moon Bay, CA on January 23, 2023.(click here to read the full statement)

OBFF's next Joint Meeting of Community-Specific Boards

3 Minnesota Trailblazers in Child Welfare at our year-end meeting

At the end of Filipino American Heritage Month, celebrated in October, and in light of the upcoming elections,  OBFF would like to share the following important remarks from Minnesota Teacher of the year, Sarah Lancaster - keynote speaker for the 2022 Asian Pacific Minnesotans Leadership Awards Dinner.  

The need for OBFF’s mission to strengthen family connections through child welfare redesign that creates racial equity in services and improves outcomes for all children of color is a struggle made more stark after the murder of George Floyd  and the global demands to rectify systemic inequities.   Our collective duty as Minnesotans to be active participants in envisioning and creating the Minnesota we all deserve through the  sharing of our stories and performing our civic duty of voting and making our voices heard is vital to nurturing the communities  where all Minnesotans can thrive and be their authentic selves.   Please take a moment to read and reflect on Mrs. Lancaster’s insight and feel free to share her message with your friends, families, and networks.  

Another world is possible!

Sincerely,
Manuel B. Zuniga, Jr.
Ombudsperson for Asian Pacific Families
Office of Ombudsperson for Families

*The ACP is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program to help low-income households pay for internet service & connected devices.  Eligible households may receive:

Up to $30/ month discount on internet service

Up to $75/ month discount if the household is on qualifying Tribal land

A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet or desktop computer with a copayment of more than $10 but less than $50

Tribal TANF cash assistance

To learn more about the ACP program, visit www.fcc.gov/acp. If you have any questions you can send an e-mail to ACPinfo@fcc.gov.

Interested in listening to a child tell their story... so you can make a recommendation on whether or not they can receive services in their family or if they need to be placed in a residential facility?

Minnesota Department of Human Services (department) is seeking individuals to join a pool of qualified individuals. You don’t need to be a professional; training and certification will be provided. The department is offering up to 20 contracts statewide. The initial contract is for $5,000 but it can be renewed each year for $5,000.

Click here to watch a video about it.

The African American Child Well-being (AACWB) Unit is developing community-based grants to provide direct services in child welfare.

Watch this space for AACWB announcements*

*In-person meetings are by appointment only.*

Phone hours:

M, Tu, W – 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Th-Fr – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

If you have a case involving a child who may have American Indian or Alaska Native heritage, visit the Office of Ombudsperson for American Indian Families' website. Or email the Ombudsperson for American Indian Families, Jill.Esch@state.mn.us , or call 651-592-1953.