Child Protection Screening
February 21, 2012We found that child protection agencies in Minnesota vary in their screening decisions and practices, but their approaches are generally reasonable. Many factors appear to contribute to variation in child protection screening decisions, including vague statutory language, agency guidelines, and resources. The Minnesota Department of Human Services has provided screening-related assistance that child protection agencies value, but the department could do more. We make recommendations to the Legislature, department, and child protection agencies to clarify state policy, guide agency practice, and improve data on child protection screening.
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Full text of report, 111 pages, PDF format
The evaluators for this report: Carrie Meyerhoff, Evaluation Manager, Phone (651) 297-3499, KJ Starr, and Matt Schroeder
*Supplemental Items (These did not appear in the printed report.)- Text of surveys to:
- county human services directors and tribal child welfare directors
- county and tribal child protection screeners
- sample of mandated reporters