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The SSIS Business Section at DHS is looking for two more agencies to pilot SSIS Version 23.3 (V23.3) July 26 – August 22, 2023. V23.3 Statewide Release is scheduled for Wednesday, August 23, 2023. Piloting is an integral part of SSIS releases.
Haven’t piloted before? This is your chance to give it a go!
Piloting responsibilities would include having a SSIS coordinator or mentor at your agency to:
- coordinate the pilot test checklist (you will be given this at start of the pilot) at your agency and then attend and give feedback on testing items at the weekly pilot call (the checklist is mostly tested through day to day work of your agency SSIS users)
- coordinate pilot specific communications/questions/feedback between our team and your agency when needed outside of the weekly pilot calls
Piloting allows agencies an early opportunity to check out what is coming their way prior to statewide release, which can also allow some time for last minute feedback and tweaks to ensure changes work for you and your agency. As an added benefit to participating in pilots, pilot agencies will receive priority SSIS Help Desk assistance as well as added opportunities for virtual and onsite pilot visits.
For more information regarding piloting V23.3 or future pilots, please contact Marcia Ryss, our Change & Engagement Consultant.
A one-page document has been updated to use as reference for Northstar Care for Children rates during State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024. This document includes basic, supplemental, and initial clothing rates with effective dates July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024. The Northstar Care for Children Rates SFY2024 reference been posted on the SSIS Fiscal Documentation page under the Payments section.
Please contact the SSIS Help Desk with any questions.
On June 15, 2023, the United States Supreme Court upheld the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in a decisive 7-2 ruling. We were thrilled and relieved that the Court upheld this law that honors the sovereignty of American Indian nations who are the native inhabitants of this land and guarantees that American Indian Nations have a right to determine what is in the best interests of their children.
The Permanency Support unit works closely with the American Indian Well-being unit to ensure compliance with ICWA and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), and that the spirit of both are upheld. This is most evident in our review and approval of Adoption Placement Agreements (APAs) which includes efforts to verify American Indian heritage of children under the guardianship of the commissioner.
We have seen much improvement with APA submissions that clearly show inquiry with birth parents occurred at the very beginning of a case when the child first came to the attention of the local agency. However, we still receive a number of cases where inquiry with one or both birth parents hasn’t occurred and/or required notices have not been sent to tribes.
Effective July 1, 2023: During our APA review, if the county lacks documentation to verify that inquiry, notice and/or other ICWA/MIFPA requirements were completed, we will cease our review and issue an APA Not Approved letter. We recognize the impact this has when a child is so close to permanency and that often the adoption worker was not the person responsible for making that initial inquiry or sending required notices, but now may be responsible for ensuring that inquiry and notice occur.
We encourage you to work with your county attorney’s office and child protection staff to ensure proper ICWA/MIFPA inquiry and notice occur when the child first comes to the attention of the local agency, which might be prior to the start of the continuous placement episode. It may be possible to resubmit the APA at a later date.
Below are resources to guide you in this work:
Checklists and forms
Guidance and frequently asked questions
Workers have the option of attaching documents in SSIS-Worker to send to Permanency Support unit staff. To ensure the documents are associated with the child/youth, workers need to make sure the Status at DHS on the Child Ward or Kinship folder is “Active at DHS” before sending in SSIS-Worker. For more information on attaching documents in SSIS-Worker to send to Permanency Support unit staff, see the Sending Attached Documents to DHS job aid under Adoption – County and Tribal on SSIS Worker Documentation on CountyLink.
When a youth’s adoption or transfer of permanent legal and physical custody (TPLPC) is finalized while they are placed in a QRTP facility, this change would require a new continuous placement in SSIS.
If a change in parental role occurs during the youth’s placement in a QRTP, the reasons and/or conditions of the placement change; therefore, all the QRTP placement processes would be required again. A new QRTP assessment would need to be completed within 30 days of the court action pertaining to these changes. After the QRTP assessment is completed, the court would review the assessment consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 260C.71.
Questions can be directed as follows:
Reminder to agencies that BRASS 180 should only be used on payments with legacy placements (start date on or before 9/29/2021). BRASS 180 is not applicable to any placements that began on or after 9/30/2021 with the implementation of FFPSA.
Child family foster homes should be paid under BRASS 181. This includes the Rule 4 administrative fee billed by licensed child placing agencies (SSIS special cost code 14).
Payments for children that are co-located with a parent in a family-based residential substance use disorder (SUD) program should be paid under BRASS 172.
Payments for children’s group residential care should be made under BRASS 183. This BRASS code covers all placements in residential shift staff settings and will include a facility that has been certified to serve pregnant or parenting youth, sexually exploited youth, and/or supervised independent living youth. This BRASS code includes a child receiving disability services that is placed in a facility with a QRTP certification.
Payments for children’s residential mental health treatment or treatment for severe emotional disturbances (SED) should be made under BRASS 483. This includes facilities with mental health certifications or with QRTP certifications.
Please refer to the current 2022-2023 BRASS Manual for full definitions of these services and contact the SSIS Help Desk with any questions.
The updated Adult Protection SSIS User Guide is available online: Adult Protection SSIS User Guide.
The guide consists of the complete steps and helpful hints needed to complete the APS entries in the Social Services Information System (SSIS).
The SSIS Trainer and DHS Adult Protection staff work collaboratively to update this user guide to reflect system enhancements. The user guide encompasses the process to support APS workers who are responsible for the Adult Protection Program in SSIS.
Check out the “Search” function and the “Hints” throughout the guide to successfully maneuver this guide!
Please visit the SSIS Adult Protection Worker Training website for registration instructions, future training dates, additional resources, and more detailed information about the courses.
Permanency Support unit staff continues to provide permanency training at the Regional Learning Centers across Minnesota. The following dates and locations are now available for registration through the MN Child Welfare Training Academy website.
- July 13, 2023 – Goodhue County Health & Human Services (Red Wing)
- Aug 9, 2023 – Northwest Regional Learning Center (Detroit Lakes)
Save the dates for the following Permanency Regional Trainings (registration available soon).
- Sept 13, 2023 – Law Enforcement Center (Marshall)
- Oct 4, 2023 – Northeast Regional Training Center (Duluth)
- Nov 15, 2023 – Carver County Health Human Services (Chaska)
Regional permanency training includes information and resources on:
- The Minnesota Assessment of Parenting for Children and Youth (MAPCY)
- The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
- Northstar Adoption Assistance
- Northstar Kinship Assistance.
Training listings for the Permanency Support unit can also be found on the Child protection, foster care, adoption: Training webpage. Scroll down to “Conferences, trainings and webinars” and select “Training” to access the links to register.
Policy questions, case consultations, the Northstar eligibility process, training requests, training suggestions, and requests for technical assistance can be sent to PQAT at northstar.benefits@state.mn.us.
Registration is now open for the remainder of this summer’s coffee talks. Registration is required for each session and will remain open until the webinar begins. Presentation recordings and materials will be posted to the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy website seven to ten business days following each event.
SSIS Open Discussion
Questions are appreciated in advance and can be directed to Heide Moris, SSIS Mentor Program Coordinator
Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 9:00 a.m.
Register here
SSIS Statewide Release v23.3
Tuesday, August 22, 2023, 9:00 a.m.
Register here
Training opportunities for new SSIS users or those seeking a refresher are now available to SSIS users. Courses are great for those new to SSIS or those seeking a refresher. Click the topic below for course descriptions, schedules and registration information.
SSIS webinar materials and previous recordings can be found on the MCWTA site.
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