KARA advocates for the people, policies and programs
that improve the lives of abused and neglected children.
This article contributed by KARA board member Mike Tikkanen
KARA Signature Video (4 minute)
Safe Passage for Children has followed up on the task force convened after the colossal failure of child protective services responsible for the death of Eric Dean and found some of it’s recommendations were being ignored. This is a powerful piece that should interest everyone concerned with Minnesota’s abused and neglected children.
The Minnesota Legislative Task Force on Child Protection was convened to make sure recommendations from the Governor’s 2015 Task Force got implemented. However the Department of Human Services (DHS) has frequently ignored their requests for follow-through. Examples include assigning fewer cases to Family Assessment, and ensuring that counties are serving children over 12 and cross-reporting with local law enforcement.
After several sessions featuring frustration about the Department’s lack of responsiveness, the Task Force stopped meeting.
Legislators have budget leverage. To get DHS cooperation they can for example threaten to cut some high level staff positions, or the Commissioner’s favorite pilot project.*
It seems peculiar to suggest that Minnesota’s legislature get tougher with DHS when many state legislatures are abusing their power. But checks and balances are essential to good governance. The legislature should establish a more appropriate power relationship with the Department.
* Other options include the famous Washington Monument ploy. The podcast or its transcript has more about that.
Listen to a reading of this blog post as well as our in-depth commentary in this week’s podcast.
See the transcript of the podcast here.