Advisory Boards and Councils

The African American Child and Family Well-Being Advisory Council aims to support the well-being of African American children, families and children of African heritage by advising the commissioner of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families on best practices, policy development and system reforms designed to improve outcomes and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in child welfare.

The American Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council assists in formulating policies and procedures relating to American Indian child welfare services and makes recommendations regarding grant approval. The council includes representatives from each of the 11 Minnesota reservations authorized by Tribal Resolution, plus one representative from the Duluth Urban Indian Community, three from the Minneapolis Urban Indian Community and two from the St. Paul Urban Indian Community. The council holds six to eight meetings each year. 

The CJA Task Force is a federally mandated, multidisciplinary advisory board that reviews and evaluates statewide front-end child welfare policies and practices and makes recommendations to the department about systematic, equitable improvements to promote children's justice and well-being. See the Children's Justice Act Task Force page for more details.

Representing a partnership among community members, local child protection agencies and the department, Citizen Review Panels examine state and local policies and practices to evaluate agencies' effectiveness in discharging child protection responsibilities. 

Learn more about the panels

The Community Resource Center Advisory Council advises on the development, implementation, evaluation and ongoing governance of a statewide network of community resource centers. These are community-based points of entry that provide culturally responsive, relationship-based service navigation and other supportive services for expecting and parenting families and youth. 

The Governor's Task Force on the Protection of Children was created to advise the governor and Minnesota Legislature on system and practice improvements in the child protection and welfare system at all levels of government. 

The Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) advises and assists in the planning, coordination and delivery of a coordinated statewide, interagency system of services to children birth to five with special needs and their families. The council is responsible for fulfilling the duties required in federal law which are further defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 125A.28.

The Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) brings human services leaders and elected officials from counties and participating Tribal Nations together to advise the DCYF Commissioner on how Minnesota plans for, designs, administers, funds, and evaluates services for children, youth, and families.  The IAC was co-developed among DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, the Association of Minnesota Counties, and the Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators. 

The Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC) provides leadership and support in setting a vision for juvenile justice in Minnesota that is informed by evidence-based practices, multi-disciplinary experience and input from the diverse communities of Minnesota. Learn more about JJAC.