DCYF partners with counties, Tribal Nations on pilot to improve benefit application processing

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) are officially launching the MNbenefits to MAXIS (M2M) Integration pilot with a kickoff meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. 

The pilot uses a newly built integration layer connecting MNbenefits, the online application used by Minnesotans, to MAXIS, the system used by state, county, and Tribal Nation workers to determine eligibility and issue benefits.

The connection between systems is expected to reduce duplicate data entry, improve the accuracy of information shared across programs, and speed up eligibility processing so families can access benefits more quickly. By streamlining how information moves between systems, the pilot will also create a more efficient, user-friendly experience for both Tribal Nation and county eligibility workers and the people they serve.

The kickoff brings Tribal Nation, county, and state pilot partners together to begin this collaborative effort using DCYF’s Whole Family Approach, which recognizes the interconnected well-being of children, families, and the people who support them. The session will explore how these principles guide the M2M pilot and help shape a worker interface that responds to real needs and challenges identified by Tribal Nation and county eligibility workers.

This marks an important milestone for Phase 1 - Design and Build, where partners will collaborate closely with the State’s product delivery team to understand current experiences, identify opportunities for improvement, and co-design solutions. This includes reviewing workflows, interacting with early prototypes, and testing functionality as it develops.

Information about the future pilot phases, key dates, and answers to frequently asked questions is available on the M2M pilot engagement site. 

DCYF is grateful for the enthusiasm and commitment of the pilot partners and looks forward to beginning this work together.