Northstar Care for Children
The Northstar Care for Children Act is a state law that took effect Jan. 1, 2015. Northstar Care for Children assists families caring for children in foster care and supports permanency through adoption or transfer of permanent legal and physical custody (TPLPC) for eligible children who cannot be reunified with their parents. The pre-Northstar Care for Children programs continue for current children and will be phased out over time.
Question regarding Northstar Care for Children should be addressed to:
- Foster Care - dhs.csp.fostercare@state.mn.us
- Permanency – northstar.benefits@state.mn.us
- MAPCY – mapcy.dhs@state.mn.us
- Families receiving Northstar Adoption Assistance or Northstar Kinship Assistance – adoption.assistance@state.mn.us
Northstar Care for Children Practice Guides, Checklists and Bulletins
The department has released practice guides and checklists for Northstar Care for Children. The primary audience is staff at county and tribal agencies.
- Northstar Care General Practice Guide DHS-7024 (PDF)
- Legally and financially responsible agency roles under Northstar Care for Children (DHS-3822) (PDF)
- Finding permanency for children in foster care: Transfer of permanent legal and physical custody to relative (DHS-7591) (PDF)
- Transfer of Permanent Legal and Physical Custody (TPLPC) Process Checklist for Children in County Foster Care DHS-6978 (PDF)
- Adoption Process Checklist for Children Under Guardianship of the Commissioner DHS-6542 (PDF)
Paths to Permanency brochures provide an overview of legal issues and financial supports for children in foster care who cannot be reunified with their parents, and whose permanency plan includes adoption or TPLPC. The primary audience is relatives, foster families, and youth who are working with an agency social worker.
- Paths to Permanency: Adoption of children in foster care (DHS-7024A) (PDF)
- Paths to Permanency: Transfer of permanent legal and physical custody of children in foster care (DHS-7024B) (PDF)
The department has issued these related bulletins:
- 21-21-01: DHS Announces Automatic Medical Assistance Eligibility for Children in Foster Care or Receiving Northstar Kinship Assistance (Jan. 1, 2021) (PDF)
- 21-68-07: Income offset policy for Northstar Care for Children eliminated (March 5, 2021) (PDF)
- 21-32-01: Pre-Northstar Foster Care Program Maintenance Rates (April 23, 2021) (PDF)
- 21-68-25: Overview of 2021 child welfare legislation (Nov. 3, 2021) (PDF)
- 22-68-01: Revisions to policies and procedures for Northstar Adoption and Kinship Assistance (Jan. 5, 2022) (PDF)
- 24-32-03 Revised: Northstar Care for Children Basic and Supplemental Payment Rates, Foster Residence Basic Rates, and Initial Clothing Allowance (state.mn.us) (PDF)
The Permanency Support Unit’s monthly email update often includes technical assistance and guidance on policy and practice issues related to adoption, TPLPC, Northstar Adoption Assistance, and Northstar Kinship Assistance. Sign up for updates on the department’s Email Updates webpage.
Minnesota Assessment of Parenting for Children and Youth (MAPCY)
The MAPCY (Minnesota Assessment of Parenting for Children and Youth) is the tool used to determine Northstar Care for Children benefits. Minnesota county and tribal social service agencies use the MAPCY when working with foster, kinship and adoptive families.
View MAPCY resources:
- MAPCY (Minnesota Assessment of Parenting for Children and Youth) Practice Guide (DHS-7060) (PDF)
- What is the MAPCY assessment (DHS-7060A) (PDF)
- Bulletin 21-68-28: Minnesota Assessment of Parenting for Children and Youth (Nov. 9, 2021) (PDF)
After finalization of an adoption or TPLPC, adoptive families and relative custodians may request a reassessment of their child’s needs and the parenting they provide.
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