Work is well underway

In mid-July work began on the Child Foster Care Licensing Guidelines. Here's some of what has been done so far:

• We sent out over 7000 surveys to relative and non-relatives who are currently licensed foster parents, applicants including those who withdrew from the licensing process, foster parents who closed in the last three years, and parents currently receiving Northstar Kinship or Adoption Assistance. Close to 1200 people responded to the survey and we were able begin reviewing the data in early November.
• By mid-November surveys will also go out to child foster care licensing workers and supervisors. We look forward to using what we learn to inform this work.
• Youth who have experienced foster care have shared their highest priorities and will have additional opportunities for participation in upcoming months
• We are working with a community partner to coordinate focus groups with relative and non-relative foster parents and parents whose children have been in foster care.
• A workgroup consisting of child advocates, representatives from community organizations, representatives of the state ethnic councils, the ombudspersons for families, county child protection staff and representatives of county and private licensing agencies is being convened and will meet several times between November 2022 and February 2023. Summaries of each workgroup meeting will be available on this page shortly after each session.
• Many community organizations and advocates that serve people impacted by foster care licensing have provided important feedback and priorities to guide this work.
• An initial outline of the topics so far identified as priorities is available in the document section of this site.