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DHS Program Resources Child Foster Care

Training and Webinars

Continuous learning opportunities related to Child Foster Care for Tribal and county staff.

Agile Apps Out of Home Placement Plan Statewide Implementation

The Out-of-Home Placement Plan (OHPP) in Agile Apps is being implemented statewide. What agencies need to know:

  • Agencies must complete onboarding by July 1, 2026.
  • The OHPP currently available in SSIS will be unavailable with the 26.3 SSIS Release in August.
  • Agencies must submit a list of staff who need access to the OHPP in Agile Apps to nicole.needham@state.mn.us. Staff lists must include names and email addresses.
  • 10 onboarding meetings are scheduled in March and April 2026.

Register for an onboarding meeting here:
Out of Home Placement Plan (OHPP) Onboarding Meetings | SSIS Engagement and Information Site | Minnesota Engage DCYF

Webinar on Bulletin #260-68-06: Clarifying when waiver-funded residential services are foster care placements for children and youth

On April 9, 2026, the department published Bulletin #26-68-06: Clarifying when waiver-funded residential services are foster care placements for children and youth. This bulletin clarifies when certain waiver services are foster care placements, consistent with the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS).

The bulletin outlines the Social Service Information System (SSIS) data-entry requirements for documenting placement stability when Waiver Crisis Respite is used to support children and youth in hotel settings. It also clarifies how waiver residential services intersect with child welfare foster care requirements, documentation expectations and Foster Care Maintenance Payments.

The department’s Child Safety and Permanency Administration will host a webinar to review the policy clarifications outlined in this bulletin.

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
Time: 10 – 11 a.m.
Location: Webex
Register here

“Best practices: navigating complex and residential placements”

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) staff hosted a series of webinars regarding best practices for navigating complex and residential placements for children in foster care. The series covered a wide variety of topics related to placement requirements, best practice guidance and documentation in the Social Service Information System (SSIS). Recorded webinars and handouts are available below.

If you have questions or need assistance with registration, please contact csp.complexcare.dcyf@state.mn.us.

Recorded Webinars

Placement entry in SSIS

2024 regional engagement sessions summary - serving children with complex needs

Voluntary placement agreements for treatment

Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) placements and requirements

  • Held on: Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025
  • Purpose: overview of requirements, processes and best practices for placement in Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs)
  • Target audience: county and Tribal case managers and leadership from children’s mental health, including contracted agencies, child welfare/child protection and adoption/guardianship.
  • Video: Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) Placements and Requirements
  • Slide deck 

Residential placements overview

  • Held on: Thursday, October 23, 2025
  • Purpose: Overview of residential placement types and associated requirements and best practices.
  • Video: Residential Placement Overview
  • Target Audience: County and Tribal case managers and leadership from children’s mental health, child welfare/child protection, adoption/guardianship, contracted agencies and disability waiver services.
  • Slide deck

Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard

The Minnesota Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard allows foster children/youth to participate in developmentally and age-appropriate extracurricular, social and cultural activities. See Minnesota’s Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard Guidance (DHS-7684) and Minnesota Statutes 260C.212, subd. 14.

Training videos

The following videos provide training for foster parents, child welfare agency caseworkers and designated facility staff:

Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Training Video (Minnesota)

Normalcy for Youth in Foster Care (Virginia)

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