Minnesota Rapid Child Welfare Consultation and Support System

Purpose

To facilitate access to experienced peer consultants regarding difficult child safety and maltreatment decisions with child welfare colleagues within 24 hours of the requesting agency initiating contact. More immediate consultation regarding screening decisions is also available. Consultation is available to county and tribal child welfare agency social workers and their supervisor and/or manager when making decisions regarding child safety.

Consultants

Consultants will include experienced Minnesota Department of Human Services (department), Child Safety and Permanency Division, staff as well as county and tribal child welfare supervisors and managers.

Case Consultations

Consultations are designed for child safety related planning and decision making, and can be utilized for the child protection service practice continuum.

Roles and Responsibilities

Consultations offer support when agency staff are involved in case planning and making decisions impacting child safety. Facilitated case discussions will consider critical elements of child safety. Consultations are collaborative efforts to generate solutions and review best practice that leads to child safety. This model respects the knowledge and skills of all professional engaged in the consultation process.

Consultation Process

The following process for consultations has been established:

Calls are initiated by county and tribal agency workers and their supervisor or manager via the 888-234-1138 line which is located at the department or dcyf.csp.rapidconsult@state.mn.us.

• The rapid consultation coordinator, or designee, receives the initial information and identifies the nature of the requested consultation.
• Coordinator connects with a county consultant partner, or an identified department consultant, to arrange a consultation time. Consultations will occur within 24 hours unless the requesting agency needs to extend the time limit. More immediate consultations will be available for purposes of making screening decisions.
• At the consultation, the coordinator will explain the process and facilitate case discussion. Consultation will conclude with clarification of an agency’s “next steps,” and a reminder to consult with their county/tribal attorney.