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Welcome to the MN Office of Ombudsperson for Families August Newsletter |
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Opportunities from the Minnesota Supreme Court, the CECLC, and more!
 Children's Justice Initiative Survey
The Minnesota Supreme Court Council on Child Protection and Maltreatment Prevention is developing recommendations to improve Minnesota’s child protection system and prevent maltreatment. The Council seeks your input to help develop these recommendations, which will be provided in a report to the Minnesota Legislature, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The Council is looking for input from the following groups:
- those who are impacted by the child protection system,
- those who work in the system, and
- the broader community around families in the system.
The Council encourages anyone with a perspective on child protection and the prevention of child maltreatment to take this survey, which is relatively short. Access the survey and complete it by Monday, August 18.
Please contact staff to the Supreme Court Council on Child Protection with any questions: SCCPC@courts.state.mn.us.
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective with the Council.
Seeking Latino and Spanish-Speaking Community Leaders for Child Protection Focus Groups
The Minnesota Supreme Court Council on Child Protection and Maltreatment Prevention is developing recommendations to improve Minnesota’s child protection system, to keep children safe, and to prevent unnecessary entry of children and families into the system. Through a series of focus groups, the Council is gathering community input on changes needed to the system.
A focus group with leaders of Latino/Spanish Speaking community organizations will be held on Wednesday, August 20, from 5:30 - 7:30pm via Zoom (you will join with a link and do not need any subscription or software to participate). Register online to participate.
Registration closes Friday, August 15, at 4:30pm.
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CECLC Council Vacancies
The Department of Human Services is currently seeking 2025 applicants for membership to the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (CECLC). This council advises the Commissioner of Human Services on reducing disparities and inequities that affect cultural and ethnic communities throughout Minnesota.
The council is accepting applications for following positions:
- 1 Member representing Advocacy Group Representative
- 1 Member representing American Indian Community Representative
- 3 Members representing Community Member Representing Diverse Cultural and Ethnic Community
- 1 Member representing County Provider serving large cultural and ethnic communities
- 1 Member representing Culturally Specific Human Services Providers
- 1 Member representing Department of Human Services Employees
- 1 Member representing Faith-based/Spiritual Organization Representative
- 1 Member representing Human Services Program Participant representing communities of color
- 1 Member representing Private Industry Representative
- 1 Member representing University of Minnesota Health Equity Research
To apply for council membership and assure consideration, interested applicants must complete an electronic application and supplemental questionnaire through the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Boards and Commissions website by end of day August 6, 2025.
For any questions on the CECLC or the application process, please contact ceclc.information.dhs@state.mn.us.
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Family Navigation to Support Service Access Video
The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) and Jeff Waid, PhD, have created a short video for professionals working with families addressing the barriers to care that families can experience.
Health and social inequality contribute to multiple adverse life experiences, such as child maltreatment. Watch this new short video to learn about these barriers to care, and how to best support children and families as they navigate these barriers.
Free Fresh Food Fridays
Come to Free Fresh Food Fridays in Minneapolis throughout the summer for free produce and community resources!
Upcoming Free Fresh Food Friday Dates
- August 8 and 22
- September 12 and 26
All dates will run from 9:30am until supplies run out, rain or shine, at Penn Ave N and 14th Ave N in Minneapolis.
Contact 612-767-9500 or check out NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center for more information.
Aligned for Impact
Join child protection professionals across Minnesota for Aligned for Impact, an in-person training focused on strengthening multidisciplinary team (MDT) collaboration in child protection. This training is free and will happen in multiple locations across Minnesota.
The MDT training will involve looking at real case studies, attending panels, and participating in hands-on exercises led by experienced Minnesota child protection MDT professionals, as well as developing practical tools for building strong, effective teams.
Event Date and Location Information:
- October 29, 9:00am - 4:30pm, in Staples, MN
- November 3, 9:00am - 4:30pm, in Mankato, MN
- November 5, 9:00am - 4:30pm, in Bemidji, MN
Registration and more info: Learn more and register for a training session online.
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Extended Foster Care Research Opportunity
Were you in foster care in Minnesota at 18 years old and participate in extended foster care? The Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson (OOFY) is looking for participants in a research study about how Minnesotans who are or were in foster care access extended foster care.
Eligible participants may be invited to a one-on-one virtual interview. If interviewed, you would receive a Visa gift card for up to $50 as a thank you for your time. You do not have to be currently enrolled in extended foster care to join this study.
To sign up for the study, fill out the online registration form. For questions, contact aflannigan@childtrends.org or call 240-223-9286.
Claiming Racial Identity, Cultivating Solidarity
The Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) presents Dr. Beverly Tatum in conversation on Wednesday, August 13 at Claiming Racial Identity, Cultivating Solidary! Dr. Tatum is a nationally recognized scholar and author of "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?"
Event Details
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Date and Time: Wednesday, August 13, 5:30 - 8:30pm
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Where: Red Cap Room, Union Depot, 214 4th Street East, St. Paul, MN 55101
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Registration: Learn more and register online
ATTACh Fall Treating Developmental Trauma and Attachment in Children Session
Registration for the Fall 2025 Treating Developmental Trauma and Attachment in Children (TDTAC) session is now open!
Therapists, clinicians, mental health professionals, and school counselors are all encouraged to attend this post-graduate level course on childhood developmental trauma. This course will focus on current thinking through the lenses of attachment and trauma, combining the recent research on Interpersonal Neurobiology with the physiological and relational practices.
Fall 2025 Course Schedule:
- Part 1: Tuesday, September 2, 4:00pm
- Part 2: Tuesdays, September 9, 16, 23, 30, October 7, 9:00am - 4:30pm
Register for TDTAC today!
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