Building a more connected human services system for Minnesotans
When families need support, they shouldn't have to think about the technology behind it.
State agencies, counties, Tribal Nations, and other partners are working together to modernize the technology that powers human services programs, creating systems that are more secure, easier to use, and better equipped to serve Minnesotans.
Many of the platforms supporting critical human services programs today were built decades ago — some more than 30 years. While they have served the state well, they were never designed to work together seamlessly. As a result, information is often stored in separate systems, requiring staff to rely on manual processes and workarounds that can slow service delivery and create inefficiencies.
The urgency of this work has become increasingly clear in recent years. Counties, Tribal Nations, state agencies, and policymakers across Minnesota have all identified outdated technology as a growing challenge for delivering human services effectively. Today, there is broad recognition that modern, connected systems are essential to supporting the people who rely on these services and the workforce that delivers them.
"For a long time, people across our human services system have been working around technology that wasn't designed for today's needs,” said DCYF Commissioner Tikki Brown. “ I'm pleased that collective efforts to educate and build support have led to a clear recognition that investing in technology is essential. We have an opportunity to build systems that better support the people doing this work and the families we serve."
Preparing systems for the future
Minnesota IT Services (MNIT), in partnership with DCYF, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), counties, Tribal Nations, and other partners, is building the technology foundation needed for a more connected human services system.
A key part of this work is creating a new integration layer — sometimes called the state’s “digital plumbing.” This will allow different systems to securely share information with each other at the right time. Instead of entering the same information in multiple systems, staff will be able to rely on data moving automatically between systems, helping reduce duplicate work and making it easier to identify and respond to issues earlier.
During the 2026 legislative session, counties, Tribal Nations, state agencies, and lawmakers identified modernization of human services technology as a shared priority. The Legislature unanimously approved $75 million to upgrade core systems, focusing on identity verification, payment processing stability, child support case management enhancements, and secure information‑sharing across programs.
The legislation also establishes new structures for ongoing partnership and shared decision‑making. Counties and Tribal Nations will have formal roles in guiding modernization efforts, and MNIT will serve as the host agency for a newly created Human Services Modernization Advisory Council.
While modernizing systems that have been in place for decades will take time, these investments provide an important foundation for addressing immediate challenges while planning for longer-term improvements.
How technology is changing
Many of the systems that support human services programs today were built decades ago and continue to play a critical role in delivering services across Minnesota.
These systems help determine eligibility for benefits, manage case information, process payments, support child support services, and administer a wide range of programs that Minnesotans rely on every day.
Rather than replacing these systems all at once, modernization efforts focus on improving how they work, connect, and share information over time. In some cases, that means enhancing existing technology. In others, it means introducing new tools, improving data exchange, strengthening security, or redesigning processes that support service delivery.
This phased approach will happen in partnership with counties, Tribal Nations, and frontline staff. By taking an iterative approach, agencies can address immediate challenges while building a more connected and sustainable technological environment for the future.
Much of this work happens behind the scenes, but it shows up in everyday ways across the human services system.
Families should experience fewer delays and a more consistent process when applying for and managing benefits.
Caseworkers and service providers will be able to spend less time moving between systems or re-entering data, and more time working directly with people.
For counties, Tribal Nations, and state agencies, the benefit shows up in more connected systems, improved data sharing where appropriate, and fewer manual workarounds that slow service delivery and create risk.
Partnership and continuous improvement
Modernizing human services technology is not a single project or system replacement. It is a long-term effort that depends on partnership, sustained investment, and steady improvement over time.
The state’s approach is guided by a framework focused on equity and accessibility, readiness and risk management, continuous feedback, and transparency. Projects move through defined phases, including identifying needs, aligning resources and governance, building and testing solutions, and making ongoing improvements as systems evolve.
These efforts are helping build a human services system that is more responsive and better able to meet the needs of Minnesotans now and in the future.
In the months ahead, we’ll share more about the projects underway, the partners shaping this work, and what these changes mean for the people who use and deliver human services across Minnesota.