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The Walz-Flanagan Administration is recommending creating a Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) that reimagines our state government structures to elevate child, youth and family priorities and funding needs. This proposed new state agency will provide focused leadership in our executive branch and with the legislature. In addition, this will move us closer to ensuring every child has a safe place to call home, no child goes hungry, and youth have the resources and supports to succeed inside and outside of the classroom. This new agency will have a whole family focus, bringing together core programs from early childhood and education through youth.
This proposal is based on feedback from governance reports, agency staff, service providers and, most importantly, families. The Walz-Flanagan Administration has concluded that it’s time for Minnesota to more formally consider a proposal to create an agency centered on children, similar to governance structures in more than half of states.
Read more about the Department of Children, Youth, and Families Proposal.
Part C FAQ Available
We know there have been questions about this transition, including related to Part C. MDE has created a Part C Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage to help answer these questions.
Next Steps
The Administration is committed to an intentional planning and transition process and engaging community and local government partners in thinking through the development of this new agency. The proposal creates a transition process for the new agency — to take the time and do it right. The process means obtaining authority and resources to support the transition to a new agency in the 2023 legislature, leading to a two-year process to plan and transition to the new agency. The intent is to build upon the current benefits for children and families and to maintain staffing and supports at current levels.
In the interim, we are happy to collect questions and will share them with those who will be responsible for the planning of this new agency, should the proposal pass the Legislature. We will do our best to keep everyone apprised of information as it becomes available. If you have questions or feedback, please send them to mde.dcyf@state.mn.us.
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