HF 2996

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/28/2018 01:43pm

A bill for an act
relating to children; requiring commissioner of human services to modify the Child
Welfare Training System; requiring a report; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating
money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260C.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [260C.81] CHILD WELFARE WORKFORCE STABILITY STUDY.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services shall partner with the University of Minnesota's
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare to conduct a child welfare workforce stability
study. The first study must be completed by June 30, 2020, and the study must be repeated
biannually thereafter. The study must examine (1) workforce intent to remain in child
welfare, (2) statewide rates of turnover, and (3) barriers to retention.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall report the results of each child welfare workforce stability
study to the governor and to the committees in the house of representatives and senate with
jurisdiction over human services by December 1, 2020, and biannually thereafter.
new text end

new text begin (c) After each child welfare workforce stability study is complete, the commissioner
shall work with the Child Welfare Training Academy, counties, tribes, and other stakeholders
to develop strategies to stabilize the workforce as appropriate.
new text end

new text begin (d) $75,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2020, and biannually thereafter from the general
fund to the commissioner of human services for the purposes of this section.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [260C.82] MINN-LINK STUDY.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services shall partner with the University of Minnesota's
Minn-LInK statewide integrated administrative data project to conduct an annual study to
understand characteristics, experiences, and outcomes of children and families served by
the child welfare system. Minn-LInK researchers shall annually conduct research and provide
research briefs, reports, and consultation to the Child Welfare Training Academy to inform
the development and revision of training curriculum.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall report a summary of the research results to the governor and
to the committees in the house of representatives and senate with jurisdiction over human
services annually by December 15.
new text end

new text begin (c) $150,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2019, and annually thereafter from the general
fund to the commissioner of human services for the purpose of this section.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin CHILD WELFARE TRAINING SYSTEM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Modifications. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services shall modify
the Child Welfare Training System developed pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section
626.5591, subdivision 2, as provided in this section. The new training framework shall be
known as the Child Welfare Training Academy.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Child Welfare Training Academy shall be administered through five regional
hubs in northwest, northeast, southwest, southeast, and central Minnesota. Each hub shall
deliver training targeted to the needs of its particular region, taking into account varying
demographics, resources, and practice outcomes.
new text end

new text begin (c) The Child Welfare Training Academy shall use training methods best suited to the
training content. National best practices in adult learning must be used to the greatest extent
possible, including online learning methodologies, coaching, mentoring, and simulated skill
application.
new text end

new text begin (d) Each child welfare worker and supervisor shall be required to complete a certification,
including a competency-based knowledge test and a skills demonstration, at the completion
of the worker's initial training and biannually thereafter. The commissioner shall develop
ongoing training requirements and a method for tracking certifications.
new text end

new text begin (e) Each regional hub shall have a regional organizational effectiveness specialist trained
in continuous quality improvement strategies. The specialist shall provide organizational
change assistance to counties and tribes, with priority given to efforts intended to impact
child safety.
new text end

new text begin (f) The Child Welfare Training Academy shall include training and resources that address
worker well-being and secondary traumatic stress.
new text end

new text begin (g) The Child Welfare Training Academy shall serve the primary training audiences of
(1) county and tribal child welfare workers, (2) county and tribal child welfare supervisors,
and (3) staff at private agencies providing out-of-home placement services for children
involved in Minnesota's county and tribal child welfare system.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Partners. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services shall enter into a partnership
with the University of Minnesota to collaborate in the administration of workforce training.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of human services shall enter into a partnership with one or more
agencies to provide consultation, subject matter expertise, and capacity building in
organizational resilience and child welfare workforce well-being.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin CHILD WELFARE CASELOAD STUDY.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services shall conduct a child welfare caseload study
to collect data on (1) the number of child welfare workers in Minnesota, and (2) the amount
of time that child welfare workers spend on different components of child welfare work.
The study must be completed by July 1, 2019.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall report the results of the child welfare caseload study to the
governor and to the committees in the house of representatives and senate with jurisdiction
over human services by December 1, 2019.
new text end

new text begin (c) After the child welfare caseload study is complete, the commissioner shall work with
counties and other stakeholders to develop a process for ongoing monitoring of child welfare
workers' caseloads.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin RULEMAKING.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services may adopt rules as necessary to establish the Child
Welfare Training Academy.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $5,428,500 in fiscal year 2019 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services for the purposes of section 3. The base for this program
is $7,287,800 in fiscal year 2020 and $9,107,170 in fiscal year 2021.
new text end

new text begin (b) $400,000 in fiscal year 2019 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of human services for the purposes of section 4.
new text end