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Data Requests

Intro

Public data is available to anyone, including individuals, the media, government agencies, government employees, vendors, unions, companies and lawyers. People can also obtain both public and private data about themselves. 

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Data Request Center

All DCYF data requests are managed through this portal. Here are some important features:

Accounts

To submit a request, first create an accont. This is done from inside the Data Request Center, accessed below. New accounts require an email address or user name, name, phone number, and address. After setting up an account, a user can choose to interact anonymously.

Data request types

  • News media: Go to the Data Request Center and open the box labeled "Submit a Media Request". Journalists can get help submitting data requests by contacting the department's media relations office at media.dcyf@state.mn.us. 
     
  • Public data: this is a request to inspect or copy our records. For further information, visit Guide for members of the public requesting public data (PDF).
     
  • Privata Data: this is a formal request to see the personal data DCYF holds about you. Under data privacy laws, individuals also have the right to request that this data be corrected, deleted, or transferred. You may need to complete a verification of identity form to complete the request. For further information, visit Guide for requesting data about you (PDF).
     
  • Interagency Data Portal: this is for other government agencies requesting documents from DCYF. Users must have government agency account.

Subjects of record requests

DCYF maintains data about adoption and kinship, the Child Care Assistance Program, child welfare and protection, contracts and grants, EBT (Electdronic Benefit Transfer) transactions (?), finance, foster care, the Great Start Compensation Support Program, Head Start, human resources, licensing, cash assistance, program integrity and oversight and SNAP food support. 

My Request Center

Here you can check the status of requests you have submitted or to update your customer account information.

Archive

A public records data request archive allows users to find out what topics have been searched for in the past, and allows for filtering by number, date opened, or by date closed.

Trends 

Trending topics can be reviewed within the center. 

Legal authority

Minnesota Government Data Practices Act presumes that all government date records are public unless specifically classified as private or confidential.