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Title
Implementing the Minnesota African American Family Preservation Child Welfare Disproportionality Act
Intro
Minnesota is implementing the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA) through a phased approach that includes policy development, training, guidance, evaluation and statewide implementation.
The Act is being implemented in phases from 2025 through 2029. Current efforts focus on preparing counties, Tribal Nations, and partners for statewide implementation while building the tools, training, and guidance needed for long-term success.
Widgets
Overview
MAAFPCWDA passed in 2024 to reduce disparities in the child welfare system and strengthen family preservation efforts. Implementation includes:
- Phase-in program with Hennepin and Ramsey counties
- Establishment of a Statewide Work Group
- Development of cultural responsiveness training
- Establishment of the African American Child and Family Well-Being Unit and African American Child and Family Well-Being Advisory Council
- New policy guidance and practice resources
- Compliance review and reporting processes
- Ongoing evaluation and continuous improvement
- Statewide implementation beginning Jan. 1, 2027
Current implementation activities
· Cultural responsiveness training launched
· Policy bulletins and implementation guidance released
· County listening sessions underway
· Compliance and feedback systems being developed
· Statewide Working Group final implementation recommendations in development
· Policy bulletins and implementation guidance released
· County listening sessions underway
· Compliance and feedback systems being developed
· Statewide Working Group final implementation recommendations in development
Key implementation milestones
2025
- Phase-in program begins (January 1, 2025)
- First evaluation completed
- Interim county training plan communicated
2026
- Second evaluation begins
- Compliance and Feedback Portal launched
- Phase-in county activities continue
Dec. 31, 2026
- Phase-in Program ends
June 30, 2027
- Phase-in Program outcomes report submitted to the Legislature
Completed
- Cultural competency training vendor selected (October 2025)
- Training development launched (February 2026)
2026
- Cultural Responsiveness Training launched (June 2026)
- Active Efforts Practice Guide released (November 2026)
2027
- Active Efforts webinars begin
2026
- First MAAFPCWDA implementation bulletin released
- ICWA/MIFPA/MAAFPCWDA guidance bulletin released
- Safety Planning guidance updated
- Allocation bulletin and award announcements released
2028-2029
- County case review guidance released
- Ongoing implementation resources published
Statewide Work Group
- Convened April 2025
- Interim report submitted January 2026
- Final implementation plan due Sept. 1, 2026
- Working Group concludes Dec. 31, 2026
African American Child and Family Well-being Advisory Council
- Annual reports submitted to the Legislature
- Recommendations provided to DCYF regarding overrepresentation of African American children
Full MAAFPCWDA implementation timeline
June 2024
- MAAFPCWDA passes.
- Planning for Phase-in Program starts
Jan. 1, 2025
- Phase-in program starts
April 2025
- Statewide Work Group convened
June 2025
- First iteration of Phase-in Program evaluation completed by DeYoung Consulting Services
July 2025
- Interim plan communicated for phase-in counties to meet the cultural competency requirement as part of the phase-in program, while the cultural responsiveness training is in development
August 2025
- A Request for Proposal (RFP) posted to solicit vendors for development of the required cultural competency training
October 2025
- The RFP selection committee met and chose Public Knowledge as the vendor to develop cultural competency training.
December 2025
- Chapin Hall Literature Review completed
Jan. 1, 2026
- Statewide Working Group interim report submitted to State Legislature
- African American Child and Family Well-being Advisory Council (AACFWB) annual report submitted to the State Legislature
- Phase-in county annual case review summary report submitted to the State Legislature, AACFWB Advisory Council, and DCYF.
February 2026:
- Iteration #2 of the Phase-in Program evaluation starts with DeYoung Consulting Services
- Kickoff for development of the cultural competency training
- April 2026: Compliance Review System Legislative Report submitted to the State Legislature
May 2026
- First MAAFPCWDA bulletin released from DCYF with policy guidance to counties
- Changes made during 2026 Legislative Session.
June 2026:
- Cultural Responsiveness Training curriculum fully developed and launches
- Virtual listening sessions with counties begin with Casey Family Programs
July 2026
- Fireside chats with Casey Family Programs and DCYF executive leadership and county regional leaders
- Launch the Compliance and Feedback Portal with phase-in counties
- Foster Care Community of Practice: MAAFPCWDA Panel specific to foster care.
- MAAFPCWDA allocation bulletin and award amounts announced
August 2026
- Bulletin on ICWA/MIFPA/MAAFPCWDA guidance
- AACFWB Advisory Council recommendations due to DCYF regarding the overrepresentation of African American children. (August 1, 2026)
- Updated Safety Planning bulletin to reflect MAAFPCWDA, followed by webinars.
September 2026
- Statewide Working Group implementation plan and best practices due. (September 1, 2026)
- DCYF releases bulletin on the 2027 disproportionate populations under MAAFPCWDA. (September 15, 2026)
- Safety related communities of practice regional meetings
November 2026
- SSIS release with MAAFPCWDA changes. Active Efforts Practice Guide Released
Dec. 31, 2026
- Statewide Work Group formally ends
- Phase-in Program ends
Jan. 1, 2027
- Statewide launch
- AACFWB Advisory Council annual report due to State Legislature
February 2027
- Family Preservation Grant grantees announced.
- Active Efforts webinars
- AACFWB Advisory Council recommendations due to DCYF regarding the overrepresentation of African American children. (Aug. 1, 2028)
- DCYF releases bulletin on the 2027 disproportionate populations under MAAFPCWDA. (Sept. 15, 2028)
- DCYF to provide guidance on case review outcomes for county case reviews. (Nov. 1, 2028)
- DCYF to provide guidance on case review outcomes for county case reviews. (Nov. 1, 2029)
- First county case review annual reports due to the AACFWB Advisory Council, DCYF, and the State Legislature (Oct. 1, 2029)
June 2024
- MAAFPCWDA passes.
- Planning for Phase-in Program starts
Jan. 1, 2025
- Phase-in program starts
April 2025
- Statewide Work Group convened
June 2025
- First iteration of Phase-in Program evaluation completed by DeYoung Consulting Services
July 2025
- Interim plan communicated for phase-in counties to meet the cultural competency requirement as part of the phase-in program, while the cultural responsiveness training is in development
August 2025
- A Request for Proposal (RFP) posted to solicit vendors for development of the required cultural competency training
October 2025
- The RFP selection committee met and chose Public Knowledge as the vendor to develop cultural competency training.
December 2025
- Chapin Hall Literature Review completed
Jan. 1, 2026
- Statewide Working Group interim report submitted to State Legislature
- African American Child and Family Well-being Advisory Council (AACFWB) annual report submitted to the State Legislature
- Phase-in county annual case review summary report submitted to the State Legislature, AACFWB Advisory Council, and DCYF.
February 2026:
- Iteration #2 of the Phase-in Program evaluation starts with DeYoung Consulting Services
- Kickoff for development of the cultural competency training
- April 2026: Compliance Review System Legislative Report submitted to the State Legislature
May 2026
- First MAAFPCWDA bulletin released from DCYF with policy guidance to counties
- Changes made during 2026 Legislative Session.
June 2026:
- Cultural Responsiveness Training curriculum fully developed and launches
- Virtual listening sessions with counties begin with Casey Family Programs
July 2026
- Fireside chats with Casey Family Programs and DCYF executive leadership and county regional leaders
- Launch the Compliance and Feedback Portal with phase-in counties
- Foster Care Community of Practice: MAAFPCWDA Panel specific to foster care.
- MAAFPCWDA allocation bulletin and award amounts announced
August 2026
- Bulletin on ICWA/MIFPA/MAAFPCWDA guidance
- AACFWB Advisory Council recommendations due to DCYF regarding the overrepresentation of African American children. (August 1, 2026)
- Updated Safety Planning bulletin to reflect MAAFPCWDA, followed by webinars.
September 2026
- Statewide Working Group implementation plan and best practices due. (September 1, 2026)
- DCYF releases bulletin on the 2027 disproportionate populations under MAAFPCWDA. (September 15, 2026)
- Safety related communities of practice regional meetings
November 2026
- SSIS release with MAAFPCWDA changes. Active Efforts Practice Guide Released
Dec. 31, 2026
- Statewide Work Group formally ends
- Phase-in Program ends
Jan. 1, 2027
- Statewide launch
- AACFWB Advisory Council annual report due to State Legislature
February 2027
- Family Preservation Grant grantees announced.
- Active Efforts webinars
- AACFWB Advisory Council recommendations due to DCYF regarding the overrepresentation of African American children. (Aug. 1, 2028)
- DCYF releases bulletin on the 2027 disproportionate populations under MAAFPCWDA. (Sept. 15, 2028)
- DCYF to provide guidance on case review outcomes for county case reviews. (Nov. 1, 2028)
- DCYF to provide guidance on case review outcomes for county case reviews. (Nov. 1, 2029)
- First county case review annual reports due to the AACFWB Advisory Council, DCYF, and the State Legislature (Oct. 1, 2029)
Contact us
Contact Child Safety and Permanency staff at DCYF for more information: dcyf.child.safety-permanency@state.mn.us
Click here to subscribe to MAAFPCWDA Implementation email updates.