Research, Reports and Evaluation
Find data and reports for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and other cash, food and employment initiatives and programs.
Initiatives
The Research Team partnered with The Department of Revenue to help educate and inform families about the Minnesota Child Tax Credit.
The Research Team helped analyze the impact that receiving advance payments would have on SNAP families' benefit amounts and eligibility. The team learned that very few households would see an increase in income that would result in a loss of SNAP eligibility, but most households that chose the advance option would see a reduction in their SNAP benefits.
The team created a webpage and estimator tool to help families and tax preparers learn more about the potential impact to their household, and to give them resources to make an informed decision.
The Deep Poverty Project was led by the department's cash assistance, food assistance and public health care programs, with consultation from Department of Revenue, Department of Health and faculty from the Humphrey School at University of Minnesota.
The goals of this initiative were to examine how living in deep poverty can lead to poor health and to identify opportunities to address deep poverty through the state's existing programs in order to improve health outcomes.
The final report of this work relied on interviews with people living in deep poverty and health care and social service providers, analysis of administrative data and published research. Outcomes of this project include:
- Program recommendations (pages 11-12 of final report) that have been included in the Governor's budget proposals
- Results from "The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation is Associated with Lower Health Care Spending among Working-age Adults without Dependents" study show health care costs among Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees are $100 lower on average when enrollees receive SNAP assistance.
Minnesota was selected to participate in the TANF Data Collaborative, an innovative approach to increasing data analytics capacity at state Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) agencies.
The department examined the use of sanctions in Minnesota’s TANF program, Minnesota Family Investment Program, in collaboration with Dakota and Olmsted counties, to better understand the relationship between NOITS rates and sanction rates and then to explore how NOITS and sanctions are associated with race, language, age, and immigration status. Read the research brief here.
Watch this video to hear staff from participating agencies (Minnesota staff featured at 4:30) describe their research questions and discuss building data capacity, integrating datasets, networking with other states, increasing collaboration between state and county agencies, learning new technical skills, and the benefits of being able to draw from diverse skillsets.
Minnesota Whole Family Systems Initiative is a partnership among state agencies, local organizations, communities and families to create system change across government to eliminate racial disparities in program access and outcomes, so all children and families can thrive together. The department grants funds to local organizations throughout Minnesota to engage families and communities in work that creates innovative program designs called "prototypes" to address racial disparities in human services and outcomes. Whole Family Systems focuses on approaches that enable and support the whole family to create meaningful and lasting change in all aspects of their lives: well-being, family preservation, housing, childcare, health and economic stability.
The final report of the 2-Gen Network covers the innovate administrative, funding and operation strategies used by the Department, the theoretical framework that guided the work and finally the work of the grantee sites and the program practice changes that resulted.
The Policy and Practice Barriers Study includes perspectives from 2-Gen Network members who are worked directly with families and communities.
Additional briefs cover the innovative program approaches and an analysis of administrative data related to the whole family systems work.
Whole Family Systems
- Gookonaanig Endaawaad “Grandma’s House” (PDF)
- Understanding Obstacles to Digital Equity in Minnesota (PDF)
2-Gen Network
- 2-Gen Network Projects 2017-2021: The Development, Implementation and Learning from Whole Family Approaches
- Policy and Practice Barriers Study: A Direct Service Perspective (PDF)
Innovative Approaches
- Collaborative evaluation by White Earth Nation and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (PDF)
- Using master leasing to support Olmsted County families (PDF)
- Presumptive eligibility for child care assistance: A 2-Gen Network Prototype (PDF)
Administrative Data Analysis
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) helps families with children meet their basic needs, while helping parents move to financial stability through work. Parents are expected to work and are supported in working with both cash and food assistance. Most families have a lifetime limit of 60 months on the MFIP.
This report provides a snapshot of all active MFIP and DWP cases for the month and year listed.
- December 2023 (PDF)
- December 2022 (PDF)
- December 2021 (PDF)
- December 2020 (PDF)
- December 2019 (PDF)
- December 2018 (PDF)
- December 2017 (PDF)
- December 2016 (PDF)
- December 2015 (PDF)
- December 2014 (PDF)
- December 2013 (PDF)
- December 2012 (PDF)
- December 2011 (PDF)
This is a summary report on the first decade of MFIP, based on December reports from 1997 to 2006:
These indicators are quarterly data on state-mandated performance measures, by county, tribal providers and county consortia.
- October - December 2024 (PDF)
- July - September 2024 (PDF)
- April - June 2024 (PDF)
- January - March 2024 (PDF)
- October - December 2023 (PDF)
- July - September 2023 (PDF)
- April - June 2023 (PDF)
- January - March 2023 (PDF)
- October - December 2022 (PDF)
- July - September 2022 (PDF)
- April - June 2022 (PDF)
- January - March 2022 (PDF)
- October - December 2021 (PDF)
- July - September 2021 (PDF)
- April - June 2021 (PDF)
- January - March 2021 (PDF)
- October - December 2020 (PDF)
- July - September 2020 (PDF)
- April - June 2020 (PDF)
- January - March 2020 (PDF)
The MFIP Monthly Report Dashboard includes summary data by month for the program.
These are annual summaries on state-mandated performance measures for the Self-Support Index and the Work Participation Rate by county, tribal providers and county consortia.
- 2024 (PDF)
- 2023 (PDF)
- 2022 (PDF)
- 2021 (PDF)
- 2020 (PDF)
- 2019 (PDF)
- 2018 (PDF)
- 2017 (PDF)
- 2016 (PDF)
- 2015 (PDF)
Annual data on Self-Support Index on racial/ethnic and immigrant groups within counties, tribal providers, and county consortia regions.
At the direction of the Minnesota State Legislature in 2002, the Self-Support Index (S-SI) outcome measure was created to quantifiy goals of the Minnesota Family Investment Program: to help participants find and maintain employment, increase earnings and decrease use of cash assistance.
The outcome measure is calculated by taking the number of participants off cash assistance or working at least 30 hours per week during a measurement quarter who were eligible for MFIP or the Diversionary Work Program in the baseline quarter divided by the total number of active participants in the baseline quarter. Note: There are three measures for cohorts of active participants in baseline quarters one, two, or three years previous.
- Self-Support Index: Future Work, DHS-7355B (PDF)
Published 2020
- Self-Support Index: Recommended Changes to the Model, DHS-7355A (PDF)
Published 2020
- MFIP Self-Support Index Methodology Update, DHS-6724A (PDF)
Published 2017
- Leveling the Playing Field: A Regression Model for Comparing the Effectiveness of TANF Employment Services Across Minnesota Counties and Tribal Programs, DHS-4064U (PDF)
Published 2009
- Updated Information on the MFIP Self-Support Index, DHS-4060O (PDF)
Published 2006
The department conducted a five-year study following nearly 2,000 early Minnesota Family Investment Program participants.
- Five Years From Baseline and Beyond, DHS-4450K (PDF)
Published 2008
- Four Years After Baseline, DHS-4450J (PDF)
Published 2005
- Three Years After Baseline, DHS-4450I (PDF)
Published 2003
- Special Report on Teen Mothers, DHS-4450H (PDF)
Published 2003
- Approaching the 60-Month Time Limit, DHS-4450G (PDF)
Published 2002
- Two Years After Baseline, DHS-4450F (PDF)
Published 2002
- Special Report on Health Care Access Among Welfare Leavers 18 Months After Baseline, DHS-4450E (PDF)
Published 2002
- One Year After Baseline, DHS-4450D (PDF)
Published 2000
- Baseline Report, DHS-4450A (PDF)
Published 1999
This is a supplemental report on Diversionary Work Program.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps Minnesotans get the food they need. Participants get an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card with benefits loaded every month that can be used to buy groceries at most stores and farmer's markets.
This report provides a snapshot of all active SNAP cases for the month and year listed.
- SNAP Calendar Year 2025 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2025 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2024 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2024 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2023 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2023 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2022 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2022 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2021 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2021 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2020 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2020 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2019 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2019 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2018 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2018 (XLS)
The Speak up for SNAP campaign was established in response to the major program changes proposed by the Federal Government in 2025. The goal is to provide clear and consistent information about SNAP's impact in Minnesota.
Research and Evaluation
Short reports on economic assistance in Minnesota.
- Expanding SNAP access during the COVID-19 emergency (PDF)
Published 2024
- TANF Youth Innovation Project, DHS-7876 (PDF)
Published 2019
- Minnesota Family Investment Program: Racial Equity Project Preliminary findings for a 2014-2016 MFIP Innovation Project, DHS-7629 (PDF)
Published 2017
- Minnesota Family Investment Program: Work Study Jobs Initiative, DHS-3804 (PDF)
Published 2017
- Minnesota Family Investment Program Teen Parent Single-point-of-contact Model, DHS-6215 (PDF)
Published 2016
- The Four Rs of Service Delivery for MFIP Teen Parents: Approaches of Eight Minnesota Counties, DHS-6517 (PDF)
Published 2012
- Minnesota Family Investment Program and Children’s Mental Health Pilot Evaluation, DHS-6100 (PDF)
Published 2010
- Family Stabilization Services for MFIP Participants: Data from the first year, DHS-4064V (PDF)
Published 2010
- Racial disparities in the Minnesota Family Investment Program, DHS-4064S (PDF)
Published 2009
- Minnesota Family Investment Program Child-only Cases, Caregivers and Children, DHS-6193 (PDF)
Published 2009
- Employability Measure Pilot Study Final Report DHS-4966, (PDF)
Published 2007
- The Diversionary Work Program: Caseload and Cost Impact, DHS-4064P (PDF)
Published 2006
- Provider Perspectives on the Issues Behind the Outcomes, DHS-4262F (PDF)
Published 2003
- Report to the Minnesota Legislature: Proposal for a County Performance Measurement System for the Minnesota Family Investment Program, DM-0106 (PDF)
- LIGSS (Local Intervention Grants for Self-Sufficiency): Lessons Learned, DM-0097 (PDF)
Published 2003
Find fact sheets about adoption, foster care, child care, child protection, child support, and economic assistance programs in Minnesota. These resources provide key information to support families, providers, and partners across the state.
Other program information
Family Self-Sufficiency and Health Care Program Statistics on Cases, Persons and Expenditures gives statewide data for a series of 10 annual and 13 monthly periods for cash, food and medical programs. The report is based on the month the payment was received. Contact DHS.ReportsAndForecasts@state.mn.us for more information.
Minnesota’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Data System (ECLDS) is a tool that combines data collected by the state departments of Education, Human Services, and Health into one online, interactive database. The system shows population level results related to children's growth and achievement in relation to their participation in a variety of educational and social programs over time. The Kindergarten Reports Economic and Food Assistance Measures reflect the portion of Minnesota’s kindergartener’s and early childhood learners in public programs who are in households participating in MFIP or DWP or receiving SNAP.
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