Minnesota’s Child Protection and Child Welfare Supervision
Support, Resources and Training
Communities of Practice: Child Safety and Child Maltreatment Prevention
Purpose
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (department), Child Safety and Permanency Division, staff is committed to assisting community and tribal agencies with implementing and integrating policies and practices that promote safety, health, and well-being of children and families involved in, or at risk of involvement in the child welfare system. Communities of Practice (COP) meetings bring together county, tribal, and community agency professionals to engage in collective learning related to their work with children and families.
Incorporating the above purpose, department staff facilitate two different COP meetings, one specific to the child protection system, the other specific to child maltreatment prevention, quarterly. Both the Child Safety and Child Maltreatment Prevention meeting/s are rooted in the idea that co-learning, relationship-building, and practice-sharing strengthen practice, and improve outcomes for children and families. Participants receive information, education, and opportunities for skill-building regarding policies and practice guidance administered by local, state, and federal child welfare agencies. Meetings provide opportunities for professionals to reflect on their own practice skills, share knowledge, and learn from others within their region and across the state. Agendas include topics pertinent to professionals working with families involved in or at risk of involvement in the child welfare system.
COP meetings are open to both caseworkers and supervisors affiliated with community partner agencies. Professionals working in the Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP), Family Assessment, Family Investigation, and all other child welfare and child protection areas are encouraged to participate. Department staff works to minimize travel time by scheduling meetings regionally across the state. COP meetings are scheduled each quarter in eight different regions, and generally last three hours, with some exceptions if both groups meet together. Professionals can attend the date and location most convenient. Depending on an individual’s role and/or responsibility in an agency, some may choose to attend both types of COP meetings.
Contact information for meetings
Community of Practice Schedule, Agenda, and Registration
Schedule, Agenda, and Registration for Child Safety Community of Practice Meetings (PDF)
Schedule, Agenda, and Registration for PSOP Community of Practice Meetings (PDF)
Printable description of Community of Practice meetings DHS-7360B (PDF)
For questions prior to and/or after meetings, send via email to:
COP Child Maltreatment Prevention:
COP Child Safety: cerina.marlar@state.mn.us
Safety Resources:
The Minnesota Child Maltreatment Screening Guidelines DHS-5144 (PDF) provide direction to county social service agencies; promote statewide consistency in definition and practice; and inform the general public about types of child safety concerns that may constitute child maltreatment. These guidelines were developed by a broad-based team of state, county, tribal, court and community partners and are based on Minnesota Statute 626.556, Reporting of Maltreatment of Minors Act.
Mandated Reporter Training and Curriculum for County Trainers to assist county and tribal social service agencies in educating their communities about child abuse and neglect; the roles and responsibilities of mandated reporters; and the process for making child maltreatment reports. The curriculum includes a specific focus on the issues of poverty and racial disparities in child maltreatment reporting.
Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy
Resource Guide for Mandated Reporters of Child Maltreatment Concerns DHS-2917 (PDF)
For more information about the curriculum or to request assistance in providing mandated reporter training at either a county or regional level, please contact Marissa Kirby-Stofferahn at Marissa.kirby-stofferahn@state.mn.us
Notice: Your rights as parents when your child is removed from your home DHS-5024 (PDF)
Title IV-E Support and Resources:
Title IV-E Foster Care Resources Directory (PDF)
Includes contact information for Regional Eligibility Determination Trainers
Other Resources:
Listing of County Children’s Services Supervisors (PDF)
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