Department of Children, Youth, and Families Implementation Office Update: Jan. 10, 2025

Hiring Announcement

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families announced that Kate Weeks has joined DCYF as the Assistant Commissioner of Economic Opportunity and Youth Services. Weeks completes the team of four assistant commissioner positions that were created when DCYF launched.

Weeks served as the executive director of the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Public Safety. Weeks joined DPS as the legislative affairs director in 2014 and became the executive director of OJP in 2014. In addition to her roles at DPS, she has held positions with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, Saint Paul City Council and Minnesota House of Representatives.

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

DCYF Transition Timeline

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

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

March 21, 2024: Gov. Walz signed Chapter 80, House File 3646, creating the statutory infrastructure for DCYF.

July 2024: DCYF was established with a commissioner appointed by Governor Walz, and programs from Children and Family Services at DHS, Early Learning Services at MDE, and some identified central operations functions transferred.

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

June 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.

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

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