State: Minnesota
Contact Person: Anita Keyes
Contact Address: Minnesota Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 64943, St. Paul, MN 55164-0943
Contact Phone: 651-431-4704
Email: anita.keyes@state.mn.us
URL: www.dhs.state.mn.us/
Founded In: September,
1999
Funding: State
funded using CAPTA funds.
Five county based panels - state steering committee
Panel members assist counties by reviewing requests for redetermination of maltreatment findings, participate in the administrative review hearings for youth in long-term foster care, participate in the Minnesota and federal Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR), monitor the Program Improvement Plans (PIP) and form committees to address county and state child protection best practice, policies, funding, community resources and other relevant issues. Panel members have conducted surveys of mandated reporters, case reviews to determine if educational, early childhood mental health screening and independent living skills needs were being met, focus groups regarding the availability and accessibility of independent living skills resources and have presented community forums on the child protection system. Among other things, Minnesota's Citizen Review Panels are currently studying child welfare financing and the effects of the budget cuts on child safety and on the children and families involved in child protection. The panels are also working on a joint project to determine their county agency, the child protection workers' and community resources' capacity to identify, contact and involve non-custodial fathers in child protection cases.
The link below to the Minnesota Department of Human Services' Citizen Review Panels' Web site includes the annual reports from 2007 and 2008, and the responses to those reports from the Department. It also includes a new panel member orientation slide show. Just click on the word, "orientation" to see it.
Minnesota Citizen Review Panels, external link, CRP reports at bottom of page
