Minnesota’s Qualified Individual program was created to support thoughtful, child-centered placement decisions for children in foster care.
Qualified Residential Treatment Programs are for children and youth who need intensive treatment to manage serious emotional or behavioral challenges, developmental disabilities, or related disorders.
A Qualified Individual is trained to assess whether a child needs to be placed in a treatment facility or if they can receive the support and services they need in a family or community setting.
Launched in response to the Family First Prevention Services Act, the QI program ensures that a trained, independent person makes decisions regarding the child’s needs. They review and consider the child’s needs, challenges, strengths, identity and family connections to determine the most appropriate care setting.
This process centers on the child's well-being while meeting the Family First Prevention Services Act's core goal of placement prevention services to strengthen families, prevent maltreatment and address other conditions that lead to out-of-home placement. The Act supports placement in family foster homes when out-of-home placement is necessary. It establishes restrictions on out-of-home placements in congregate care and requirements for residential treatment facilities that support using these settings only when absolutely necessary for the child’s care and for the shortest time possible.
What is a Qualified Individual?
Qualified Individuals offer an independent voice, focused on what’s best for the child. They ensure every child receives care rooted in family, culture and belonging. They talk with the child, their family and other important people in the child’s life who form the child’s Family and Permanency Team. QIs use what they learn to create a strengths-based and culturally responsive assessment to support the child’s needs.
Qualified Individuals:
- Interview the child and members of the child's Family and Permanency Team
- Complete the Minnesota Brief Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment, often referred to as a QRTP assessment
- Submit the assessment and a placement recommendation reflective of the child’s identity, values and lived experience to the referring agency.
Diverse QIs needed
When deciding whether a child should be placed in a residential treatment program, it's important to consider the whole picture, including the child and family’s unique background, needs, strengths and experiences.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families needs Qualified Individuals who understand the unique needs of children from underserved, marginalized or overrepresented communities in the foster care system to help connect them with the right support.
Diversity among QIs doesn’t just mean race or ethnicity. It also includes people who are LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, and those from different cultures, languages and economic backgrounds. The program especially needs more Native, Hispanic and Spanish-speaking QIs.
When QIs bring their cultural knowledge, community insight or lived experience to the role, assessments and recommendations are more informed, respectful and reflective of the child’s identity and needs.
Ready to take the next step?
Becoming a QI is a flexible, rewarding way to support children and families on your schedule, from wherever you are.
To get started:
- Apply: Check out the application details and submit your materials to let us know you’re interested.
- Get trained and certified: Complete a background check and attend a free, two-day virtual training. You'll learn everything you need, including how to use the Minnesota Brief CANS assessment tool.
- Start making an impact: Once certified, you’ll join Minnesota’s QI network and begin receiving referrals to help guide important care decisions for children.
What you’ll get
- Free, paid training and certification
- Remote work on your own time
- $750-$900 per completed assessment
- Ongoing support from the state
- Opportunities for learning, mentorship and connection with other QIs
- A chance to make a real difference for children and families across Minnesota.
