Governor’s budget protects DCYF programs and strengthens support for families

Across Minnesota, families are navigating rising costs, economic uncertainty, and increasing demand for essential services. The Governor’s 2026 Supplemental Budget proposal focuses on protecting the programs families rely on while making targeted investments to strengthen long-term outcomes for children, youth, and communities.

The budget protects recent investments in child care, early childhood, prevention, and family support programs, while advancing work in program integrity, technology modernization, and service coordination. These efforts are designed to ensure that resources reach families effectively and that systems supporting them are strong, accountable, and sustainable. More information related to the DCYF programs and services included in the Governor's Supplemental Budget is available in this report. 

“This budget continues our commitment to putting children and families first while strengthening the systems that support them,” said Commissioner Tikki Brown, Department of Children, Youth, and Families. “It maintains funding for essential services while investing in program integrity, improving accuracy, and ensuring families can access the support they need now and into the future.”

Protecting food access and strengthening SNAP

The proposal includes significant investments to maintain and strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in response to federal changes. 

These investments:

• Protect food access for Minnesota families 
• Fund the state’s share of SNAP costs 
• Improve accuracy and reduce errors through training, technology, and real-time case review 

With approximately one in five Minnesota households experiencing food insecurity, maintaining access to food support remains a core priority. 

Advancing program integrity in child care

The budget strengthens oversight and accountability in the Child Care Assistance Program while continuing to protect the essential role child care providers play in supporting families and the workforce. 

Key investments include:

• Expanded investigatory capacity within DCYF 
• Expanded data analysis capabilities
• Increased fraud prevention funding for counties and Tribal Nations 
• Required program integrity training for providers receiving CCAP

These efforts build on DCYF’s broader commitment to ensuring public resources are used effectively while maintaining access to care for families across Minnesota.

Making child care more affordable

To help families manage the cost of care, the budget recommendations expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, providing direct financial relief to more than 100,000 families. 

The expansion:

• Increases eligibility for more families 
• Raises the value of the credit 
• Supports both young children and school-aged dependents 

This investment directly supports working families while reinforcing the importance of a strong early childhood system.

Modernizing systems to better serve families

The budget also invests in modernizing legacy systems that deliver services such as SNAP and child care assistance. 

These improvements will:

• Streamline access to services 
• Reduce administrative burden for counties and Tribal partners 
• Improve accuracy and program integrity 
• Create a more user-friendly experience for families and workers 

This work represents a long-term shift toward a more connected, responsive system of care.

Strengthening oversight across programs

The proposal supports expanded coordination with a statewide Office of Inspector General, enhancing the state’s ability to detect and prevent fraud across programs. 

At the same time, DCYF will continue to lead program integrity efforts within its programs, ensuring accountability remains central to service delivery.

A balanced approach for Minnesota families

Together, these proposals reflect a balanced approach protecting the programs families depend on while making strategic investments that strengthen systems, improve accountability, and support long-term success.

By focusing on affordability, program integrity, and service delivery, the Governor’s budget reinforces Minnesota’s commitment to ensuring children, youth, and families have the support they need to thrive.