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S.F. No. 2979 - Child Welfare Stability Study and Training System - The Second Engrossment
 
Author: Senator Andrew Mathews
 
Prepared By: Joan White, Senate Counsel (651/296-3814)
 
Date: March 29, 2018



 

Section 1 (260C.81, subdivision 1) requires the Commissioner of Human Services to partner with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare to conduct a child welfare workforce stability study. The first study is due June 30, 2020, and every other year, thereafter.  The commissioner shall report the results of each study to the governor and the legislative committees having jurisdiction over human services issues. After each study, the commissioner shall work with the Child Welfare Training Academy, counties, tribes, and other stakeholders to develop strategies to stabilize the workforce.

Subdivision 2 requires the Commissioner of Human Services to partner with the University of Minnesota’s Minn-LInk statewide integrated administrative data project to conduct an annual study to understand characteristics, experiences, and outcomes of children and families served by the child welfare system. The Minn-LInK researchers shall annually conduct research and provide research briefs, reports, and consultation to the Child Welfare Training Academy to inform the development and revision of training curriculum. The commissioner shall report results to the governor and legislative committees having jurisdiction over human services issues.

Section 2, subdivision 1, requires the Commissioner of Human Services to develop a new training framework for the child welfare workforce called the Child Welfare Training Academy. The academy shall be administered through five regional hubs around the state, and each hub is required to deliver training targeted to the needs of the region.  Each child welfare worker and supervisor is required to complete a certification, including a competency-based knowledge test and a skills demonstration, at the completion of the training and biennially, thereafter.  Each hub shall have a specialist trained in continuous quality improvement strategies.  The academy shall include training and resources that address worker well-being and secondary traumatic stress. 

Subdivision 2 requires the Commissioner of Human Services to enter into a partnership with the University of Minnesota to collaborate in the administration of the workforce training. The commissioner is also required to enter into a partnership with one or more agencies to provide consultation and capacity building in organizational resilience and child welfare workforce well-being.

Section 3 requires the commissioner to conduct a child welfare caseload study by July 1, 2019, which collects data on the number of child welfare workers in Minnesota and the amount of time that child welfare workers spend on different component of child welfare work. The commissioner shall provide the results of the study to the governor and legislative committees with jurisdiction over human services issues. After the study is complete, the commissioner shall work with counties and other stakeholders to develop a process for ongoing monitoring of child welfare workers’ caseloads.

Section 4 authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules necessary to establish the Child Welfare Training Academy. If the commissioner does not adopt rules by December 31, 2020, rule making authority is repealed.

Section 5 increases the base for children's services grants for the child welfare workforce stability study.

Section 6 appropriates funds for purposes of the studies and the Child Welfare Training Academy.

 
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