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On April 6, 2020, the commissioner temporarily modified certain statutory background study requirements for most providers during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to the peacetime state of emergency and the subsequent stay at home orders. The changes were necessary because completing studies that met current state and federal requirements had become increasingly difficult due to closures of public fingerprinting sites and a lack of responses to requests for criminal history records information from other states.
DHS background studies were temporarily modified to waive fingerprint requirements; however, Minnesota state district courts have been reluctant to finalize adoptions without background studies that meet the requirements of the federal Adam Walsh Act.
At the close of business on July 26, 2020, DHS will discontinue the intake of the emergency background study applications for adoptions. Effective July 27, 2020, DHS will return to conducting state and federally compliant fingerprint-based adoption background studies for counties and private agencies. On and after July 27, all counties and private agencies will need to send in fingerprint cards with the required adoption background study applicant information and pay the $70 background study fee (as applicable). More information regarding adoption background studies can be found on the background studies webpage.
If a temporarily modified adoption background study was completed for a study subject, the study will remain valid for 60 days after the governor declares that the peacetime emergency has ended.
For questions about adoption studies call the Background Studies Contact Center at (651) 431-6620, or email NetStudy2@state.mn.us.
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