Sponsor: Social Services
Title
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Funding Allocation from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families for Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act
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Recommendation
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1. Accept the funding allocation from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families for the implementation of the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act, in the amount of $3,000,000.
2. Authorize the County Manager to execute grant agreement and amendments in a form approved by the County Attorney’s Office.
3. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to the agreement in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the funding allocation.
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Background and Rationale
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African American children are over-represented within the child welfare system. Once in the child-welfare system, they stay longer and experience higher rates of out of home placement. In response, in July of 2024, the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPA) was passed. This act aims to decrease disproportionality in Minnesota's child protection system. Ramsey County is tasked with beginning phasing in this legislation in January of 2025.
Legislation requires that Ramsey County will provide active efforts for the disproportionally represented groups in the child protection system, which includes but is not limited to African American children. These efforts will require additional staffing time and culturally responsive services offered at all levels of care.
Full implementation of MAAFPA will happen on January 1, 2027, for all counties in Minnesota, though Ramsey County is one of two counties given the opportunity to begin with earlier implementation.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
African American children and families are overrepresented in the child welfare system. The aims of this act and the funding are to increase services and efforts of Ramsey County to decrease the over representation of disproportionately represented groups in the child welfare system.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Ramsey County will utilize community members throughout the hiring process. When reviewing contracts, community agencies that have individuals with lived experience will be given priority. When issuing Request for Proposals, community members will be on panels deciding who to contract with to implement the services in support of MAAFPA requirements. Ramsey County will also utilize community members, community agencies and individuals with lived experience to co-design for MAAFPA implementation.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Ramsey County will have $2,500,000 dollars to utilize between October 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, to spend on staffing, contracts, co-design work, concrete services, and training. An additional $500,000 will be allocated to spend on culturally specific services within the community to support the MAAFPA legislation. This part of the allocation is to be spent by June 30, 2025. Currently, Ramsey County is still working on developing a plan to share with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families. Once the grant has been expended the staffing, contracts, co-design work, concrete services and training supported by the grant will need to be absorbed into the department’s operating budget.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. Budget
2. Workplan Guidance