About Us

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families helps keep children safe and provides families with supports to care for their children. This includes child protection services, out-of-home care, permanent homes for children, child support, food assistance programs, child care and early learning services.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families relies on professionals and people with lived experience to help guide programs and policies. Learn more about opportunities to get involved.

Learn more about the department's leadership.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is committed to fostering transparent and effective communication with the public and the media. Resources are available for journalists and media professionals looking for information about the department's services, policies and initiatives.

Learn about employment opportunities within DCYF and how to apply to open positions.

Public data is available to any member of the public, including individuals, the media, government agencies, government employees, vendors, unions, companies and lawyers. Learn more about requesting data from the department.

Reports and Data has detailed information on various topics, including legislative reports, monthly program stats, budget and forecast information, and program quality.

Communications staff advance the department's mission by providing transparent, timely, and accurate information to the public, other government agencies, organizational partners and the Minnesota Legislature. 

• Find the agency's news releases. 
• Subscribe to receive program newsletters and alerts. 
• Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn. 
• Media can reach us by email at dcyf_media@state.mn.us

DCYF is committed to providing equal access to programs and services for eligible Minnesotans. It is also important for applicants and clients to know and understand their civil rights. Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation is prohibited based on age, color, creed, disability, familial status, gender identity, marital status, national origin, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation (protections vary by program). This policy applies to all aspects of DCYF services such as access, eligibility, intake, and treatment, and extends to recipients, sub-recipients, contractors, and vendors receiving state or federal human services funding.

• Civil rights policy and procedure for filing a complaint (PDF)
• Form for filing civil rights complaint (PDF)