Department of Children, Youth, and Families Implementation Office Update: Jan. 19, 2024

2023 in Review

The DCYF Implementation Office was established at Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) on July 1, 2023, to provide project management and coordination for the creation of the new agency. A sampling of the highlights from the Implementation Office’s first six months – for which agency and community partnership has been essential at each and every step – include:

• Hiring and onboarding Implementation Office staff;
• Creating six implementation workstreams, with 85 members meeting regularly;
• Piloting an equity tool and glossary of equity terms in coordination with the MMB Office of Inclusion;
• Identifying a short-term facility for DCYF (444 Lafayette Rd, Saint Paul, Minnesota, a building currently leased for DHS with a lease term ending June 30, 2026);
• Announcing a planning timeline for program transfers;
• Selecting a domain for DCYF’s network of IT systems and programs;
• Launching a survey to gather perspectives and input from impacted employees;
• Implementing a robust engagement plan and participating in:
  • 135 community engagements, including 37 Tribal consultations;
  • 13 labor partner engagements;
  • 12 county engagement meetings; and
  • 5 monthly agency director meetings.

Stay Connected

As leaders impacted by and interested in the DCYF transition, your feedback and outreach are critical to making this new agency successful.

Please share this newsletter and the DCYF Implementation Office webpage with your network and partners who are impacted by the transition to keep them updated on announcements and opportunities. We also encourage you to share engagement opportunities, recommendations, and questions with the Implementation Office at dcyf.implementation.mmb@state.mn.us.

Quick Links

DCYF Implementation Office

Frequently Asked Questions

Part C FAQs

Contact Us

A Focus on Culture

Throughout the transition, current employees and leaders have emphasized the opportunity to focus on agency culture as DCYF is established. To this end, the Implementation Office is working with a core group of program directors at impacted agencies. With their feedback and expertise, the Implementation Office is identifying dedicated resources to focus on building the culture for DCYF and aligning these efforts with the strong culture that exists on teams today. This work remains aligned with existing workstreams and employee engagement.

When will the transition occur?

July 1, 2023: The DCYF Implementation Office was established.

February 1, 2024: Draft legislation (“Revisor bill”) is due to the chairs and ranking minority members of relevant legislative committees and divisions with any changes to Minnesota Statutes necessary to facilitate the transfer, authority, and operational functions to establish DCYF. MMB, DHS, MDE, and DPS are working together with the Revisor’s Office and legislative staff on the bill language.

March 1, 2024: A transition report from the commissioner of MMB, on behalf of the Implementation Office, is due to the Minnesota Legislature, outlining planning, engagement efforts, and recommendations for the transfer of programs to the new agency.

July 1, 2024: DCYF is established with a commissioner appointed by Governor Walz. Per the planning timeline, programs from Children and Family Services at DHS, Early Learning Services at MDE, and some identified central operations functions will transfer.

October 15, 2024, through July 15, 2025: Quarterly transition reports are due to the Legislature from the commissioner of the DCYF regarding the status of the program transfers.

January 1, 2025: Per the planning timeline, Help Me Connect from MDH transfers.

June 30, 2025: Per statute, the Implementation Office completes final transition preparations and ends its work.

July 1, 2025: Per the planning timeline, all remaining identified programs will transfer. This includes relevant licensing and program integrity functions from the DHS Office of Inspector General, the MDE after-school community learning grant, the DPS Office of Restorative Practices and youth justice programs, and remaining central operations functions.

About the Department of Children, Youth, and Families Implementation Office

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families Implementation Office, housed at MMB, provides project management, coordination, and capacity for the budget, policy, and administrative planning necessary to transfer programs centered on children and families, and associated finances, to the new agency.

Contact Us.

Website: DCYF Implementation Office
Email: dcyf.implementation.mmb@state.mn.us