Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to enhance child protection efforts by modifying the structure and duties of the multidisciplinary child protection teams in Minnesota. It emphasizes improving cooperation among different entities to address serious issues like child exploitation, trafficking, and the cases of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives.

Main Provisions

• Establishment of Teams: Every county must establish a multidisciplinary child protection team. This team should include representatives from various sectors such as local welfare, county attorney, county sheriff, health, education, mental health services, Indigenous services, and community-based agencies.

• Duties of Teams: The teams are responsible for providing public and professional education, developing resources for prevention, intervention, and treatment, and offering case consultation. Case consultation involves a review process where recommendations for services to children and families are made, involving a mix of members from human services, law enforcement, education, and community agencies.

• Inclusion of Services for Indigenous People: The bill mandates the inclusion of representatives from agencies serving Indigenous communities, particularly focusing on issues of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives. These representatives will help develop responsive programs targeting at-risk youth and families affected by these issues.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Expanded Team Composition: The amendment broadens the team composition to include representatives from agencies serving Indigenous communities, particularly focusing on missing or murdered Indigenous relatives.

• Emphasis on Indigenous At-Risk Youth: A new provision focuses on creating programs to assist youth at risk of going missing or being murdered, with a special emphasis on Indigenous relatives.

Relevant Terms

• Child protection
• Multidisciplinary teams
• Community-based agencies
• Missing and murdered Indigenous relatives
• Trafficking
• Case consultation