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Welcome to the MN Office of Ombudsperson for Families May Newsletter |
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Honoring National Foster Care Month, AANHPI Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and Older Americans Month
National Foster Care Month
May is Foster Care Advocacy and Awareness Month in Minnesota. It’s a vital time to honor the children that spend time in foster care every year. While Minnesota has seen a 31% decrease in the number of children in care over the past five years, the need for stable, caring homes remains urgent, especially for sibling groups and teens. As of early 2025 reporting, approximately 5,865 children were in foster care in Minnesota on an average day, based on 2024 year-end data.
This month, we celebrate the families and professionals working toward the goal of "relational permanency" in family foster care were children are placed with relatives, a significant step in keeping kids connected to their communities and heritage.
Key Data & Trends:
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Declining Numbers: The average daily number of children in out-of-home placement has dropped from 8,499 in 2020 to roughly 5,865 in 2024/2025.
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Placements by Type: In 2024, 66% of children in family foster care were placed with relatives.
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Demographics: As of the 2025 report, approximately 37% of children in care were white, 26% two or more races, 18% American Indian/Alaska Native, 15% African American/Black, 2% Asian/Pacific Islander, 11% Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, of any race.
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Placement Entries: According to The Imprint, in 2024, there were 4,166 new entries into foster care, and roughly 11% of these were for "placement for treatment".
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Age Profile: Youth ages 14-21 account for over one-quarter of children in foster care.
How You Can Support Minnesota Children and Youth:
#AANHPI Heritage Month
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in Minnesota! This month commemorates the arrival of the first recorded Japanese immigrant to the United States on May 7, 1843. The Office of Ombudsperson for Families honors the AANHPI community and the contributions they have made to the state of Minnesota throughout its history.
In addition to various proclamations honoring this important recognition of AANHPI Heritage, there will be two commemorative bridge lightings in the colors of the AANHPI Unity and Resistance Flag: the I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge will be lit on May 2, and the Lowry Avenue Bridge will be lit on May 5.
AANHPI Unity and Resistance Flag
The flag contains the following colors:
- Deep blue: represents the ocean and the unity of AANHPI communities
- Gold: honors prosperity and resilience
- Green: symbolizes land, growth, and the environment
- Red: acknowledges prosperity, joy, and the strength of resistance in times of adversity
Minnesota Proclamations in honor of AANHPI Month
State of Minnesota proclamation, signed by Governor Tim Walz
City of Saint Paul proclamation, signed by Mayor Kaohly Her
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Remember that you are not alone. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 988 for immediate support.
You can also find help in Minnesota through the Minnesota Crisis Line Phone Directory.
Older Americans Month
May is Older Americans Month. It is a time to thank older adults in Minnesota for everything they do for our state.
One important way they help is by caring for children. When children cannot stay with their parents, grandparents and other relatives often step in to help. They provide a safe and loving home so children can stay connected to their family and community.
Did you know?
This May, we honor these older caregivers. Their hard work and love keep families together in our communities. They deserve our deepest thanks and our strongest support.
Minnesota offers several resources to support kinship caregivers, including many specifically designed for older adults and grandparents.
Statewide Support & Navigation
Financial Assistance
Legal & Specialized Resources
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Keeping Families Connected Minnesota: A nonprofit providing legal help for kinship caregivers navigating family court and custody issues.
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LawHelp MN: Offers legal information and helps you find free or low-cost legal clinics based on your zip code.
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Division of Indian Work: Provides specialized support groups and services for Native American elders and grandparents acting as caregivers.
Local Navigator Offices
Community Resources
OBFF has compiled an updated list of community resources to help with child and family welfare in Minnesota. You can filter the list by county and topic to make finding what you need easier. Explore the new OBFF community resource page!
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CMAH Lunch and Go Sessions
Join the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage (CMAH) for weekly Lunch and Go information sessions! These sessions will happen every Wednesday and Friday at 12:30pm.
These sessions are a great opportunity to check in with the Council on any bills that they are either supporting or opposing. The Council greatly values your input and hopes to see you there.
Event Details:
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Date and Time: Wednesdays and Fridays, 12:30 - 1:00pm
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Location: Virtually, via Microsoft Teams
- Join the Meeting Online
Data Conversations with DCYF
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) invites you to join a series of conversations on using public data and data resources that are available through DCYF. These conversations are geared toward data staff from schools, counties, Head Start, Tribal Nations, and community organizations who use public data from DCYF to inform decisions.
There are two more summits happening in May throughout the state:
Apply for the 2026-2027 Humphrey Policy Fellows Program
Applications for the 2026-2027 University of Minnesota Humphrey Policy Fellows Program are open until May 10!
The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance (CSPG) offers programs related to public policy and civic life, including the Policy Fellows Program. This program is for mid-career leaders in government, nonprofit work, and business who are looking to expand their skills and work across their differences to better Minnesota.
The application is still open until Sunday, May 10 at 11:59pm. For questions, contact cspg@umn.edu.
2026 AANHPI Unity Summit
The AANHPI Unity Summit, sponsored by the Asian American Unity Coalition, will take attendees to the communities directly impacted by Operation Metro Surge and focus on coalition-building, civic engagement, and the power of narrative.
This summit is designed for anyone committed to defending civil rights and strengthening immigrant communities. Learn more about the AANHPI Unity Summit.
Event Details:
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Date: June 27-28, 2026
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Location: University of Minnesota, McNamara Alumni Center, 200 SE Oak Street, Minneapolis
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Registration: Register for the summit online
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CAPM Check in with the Council
The Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM) invites you to join them for monthly virtual meetings to check in with the Council!
This is a great opportunity to make your voice heard over your concerns with how local and federal policies may affect Minnesota's Asian Pacific Islander communities. The Council wants to hear from you, as well as provide an opportunity to give community members information.
Event Details:
For questions, please reach out to capm@state.mn.us.
CASCW Advanced Use of Supervision Strategy
The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) invites you to a free workshop on strengthening effective supervision strategies for improving staff resilience, supervisory relationships, and interactions between staff and the youth and families they serve.
This event is free, with Continuing Education Units (CEU) available for participants who attend the entire workshop.
Event Details:
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Date and Time: Thursday, May 28, 9:00am - 12:00pm
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Location: Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy, 1711 County Rd B W, Roseville, MN 55113
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Registration: Register in advance online
Virtual 2026 AAPI Rising Summit
Join CAPI for the 2026 Virtual AAPI Rising Summit! This year's event is titled Movement Beyond the Moment.
This virtual summit is an opportunity to connect with the community and learn alongside fellow changemakers. This summit is about building the relationships, strategies, and systems needed to sustain collaboration and power long after moments of crisis pass.
Event Details:
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Date and Time: Friday, May 29, 10:00am - 4:00pm
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Registration: Register online
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