Foster Care Community of Practice

The Foster Care team in the Child Safety and Permanency Administration at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will host virtual Community of Practice meetings quarterly in January, April, July and October. Meetings will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays of the last week of the month. Registration and additional meeting details will be sent via GovDelivery the month prior.

The goals of the Foster Care Community of Practice meetings are to:

• Provide a space for Tribal and county workers to share their knowledge and engage in meaningful discussion on various topics pertaining to child welfare
• Provide attendees with useful information and support to develop and enhance their understanding of child welfare practice
• Engage Tribal and county workers and stakeholders to develop ongoing foster care placement and permanency discussion topics that support positive outcomes for children and families.

July 2026 meetings

The July 2026 meeting will feature a panel of staff from the department and Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. The panel will answer pre-submitted questions about the new Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA). Please submit your questions using the MAAFPCWDA Mentimeter survey. Questions must be submitted by July 13, 2026. All questions must be submitted in advance.

Who should attend

Sessions are geared towards ongoing case managers for children and youth in out-of-home placement receiving child protection, child welfare, children's mental health and/or disability services.

Registration

Participants only need to attend one meeting; the content is the same.
Register for July 28, 10-11:30 a.m.
Register for July 30, 2-3:30 p.m.

2026 meeting dates

Oct. 27, 10 a.m., and Oct. 29, 2 p.m.

2027 meeting dates

Jan. 26, 10 a.m., and Jan. 28, 2 p.m.
April 27, 10 a.m., and April 29, 2 p.m.
July 27, 10 a.m., and July 29, 2 p.m.
Oct. 26, 10 a.m., and Oct. 28, 2 p.m.

Previous meeting presentations

January 2026 – Tools for Reunification
October 2025 – Caseworker visits with children in foster care
July 2025 – Maintaining connections for children in foster care
January 2025 – Child welfare case management engagement with relatives