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| In 1996, Congress amended the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). This required each state to establish at least three citizen review panels in order to receive Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants Program funding. In Minnesota, panels have been established in Chisago, Ramsey, Winona, and Washington Counties. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) plans to expand citizen review panels throughout the state. |
| Citizen review panels provide opportunities for community members to play an integral role in ensuring the child protection system is protecting children from abuse and neglect and helping find permanent homes for them. While the panels are required to review the state’s CAPTA plan, they also evaluate different aspects of the child protection system in their own communities. Made up of 11 to 16 citizens each, these panels represent a partnership among: |
| • County child protection systems |
• Minnesota Department of Human Services.
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| To ensure the state’s child protection system is working well, citizen review panels: |
| • Evaluate how well their county complies with the state’s CAPTA plan |
| • Consult with their county’s child protection agency on other important child protection standards in their county |
| • Prepare and make available to the public an annual report summarizing the panel’s activities |
| • Review the consistency of the child protection system’s practice and policy compliance |
| • Offer insight that those working within the system may miss and provide feedback on what is or isn’t working |
| • Analyze trends and recommend policy changes |
| • Provide outside validation of the child protection system’s successes and staff efforts |
| • Increase community understanding of and investment in the child protection system |
| • Provide input on the use of community resources |
| • Promote cooperation among community resources and county child protection services |
• Advocate for needed resources to protect children from abuse and neglect, and find them permanent homes quickly.
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| Panel members listen well, work as part of a team, are sensitive to diversity, maintain confidentiality, participate in training, and serve a two-year term. These community volunteers, appointed by the DHS commissioner and county commissioners, participate in training in: |
| • Child abuse and neglect issues |
| • Permanency laws, including family reunification, case plans, and reasonable efforts toward family reunification |
| • Alternatives to family reunification, including long-term foster care, transfer of legal custody, termination of parental rights, and adoption |
| • Child development and attachment issues |
| • Cultural considerations, including the Indian Child Welfare Act and heritage preservation |
| • Dynamics of domestic violence |
| • Legal and court processes |
| • Chemical and mental health |
• Education and community resources.
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| Panel members are responsible for giving their outside perspective on the internal workings of the child protection system. To accomplish this, panels: |
| • Meet regularly (at least once every three months) |
| • Review records, case files, and reports |
| • Gather information through interviews and observation |
| • Provide independent insight |
| • Report findings and recommendations to key leaders |
| • Receive ongoing support and consultation from county agencies and DHS staff. |
| New panel members are encouraged to view this orientation. This PowerPoint presentation provides detailed information about panels and their effective functioning. |
| The Minnesota Department of Human Services plans to expand Citizen Review Panels, on a voluntary basis, in counties throughout the state. Of special interest to county child-protection workers and community leaders, DHS has prepared Guidelines on ways to invite citizen participation and encourage community investment in the protection of children. |
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