HF 1661

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/14/2024 03:48pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing the informal kinship caregiver support
grant program; expanding financial support for adoptive, foster, and kinship
families; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 256N.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [256N.265] INFORMAL KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT GRANT
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The informal caregiver support grant program is
established in the Department of Human Services for an eligible community-based nonprofit
organization to provide informal kinship caregivers, not restricted to familial status,
connection to local and statewide resources and support that reduces the need for child
welfare involvement or risk of child welfare involvement.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligible grantees. new text end

new text begin Eligible grantees are community-based nonprofit
organizations with a demonstrated history of kinship caregiver support, ability to increase
capacity of caregivers served, and ability to serve racially and geographically diverse
populations. Grantees shall be capable of developing informal kinship caregiver support in
alignment with a consistent set of replicable standards.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Allowable uses of funds. new text end

new text begin Eligible grantees must use funds to assess informal
kinship caregiver and child needs, provide connection to local and statewide resources,
provide case management to assist with complex cases, and provide supports to reduce the
need for child welfare involvement or risk of child welfare involvement.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; INFORMAL KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 and $....... in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of human services for the informal kinship caregiver grant program
under Minnesota Statutes, section 256N.265. The commissioner shall use up to ten percent
of appropriated funds in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to contract for an external evaluation
of the informal kinship caregiver support grant program. The general fund base for this
appropriation is $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; SUPPORT FOR KINSHIP FAMILIES.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 and $....... in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of human services to support relative caregivers by expanding
financial support for adoptive, foster, and kinship families under Minnesota Statutes, section
256N.261. The commissioner shall make grants to eligible public and private agencies for
the delivery of individualized support to relative caregivers and prospective relative
caregivers as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 260C.007, subdivision 27. Grantees
shall support relative caregivers with licensing and ongoing services specific to meet the
unique needs of the relative children and caregivers. Priority must be placed on public and
private licensing agencies that can demonstrate expertise in supporting relative caregivers.
new text end