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    Information on Minnesota State Agencies, Boards, Task Forces, and Commissions

    Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

    Children, Youth, and Families Department

    Also known as:
    Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
    Active dates:July 2024 -
    Authority:
    Minn. Stat. 143.02
    2024 Minn. Laws Chap. 80
    2023 Minn. Laws Chap. 70 Art. 12 Sec. 14
    Function:

    The department will oversee: child care and early learning programs; child support, safety and permanency, and family focused community programs; economic support and food assistance programs; and youth opportunity and older youth investments.

    Preceded by:
    Human Services Department
    Health Department
    Education Department
    Public Safety Department
    History:

    The creation of a new Department of Children, Youth, and Families, was an initiative included in the One Minnesota Budget proposal released by Governor Tim Walz in January 2023.

    The Human Services, Education, Health and Public Safety departments will transfer responsibilities that would fall under the jurisdiction of the new department, along with relevant staff and unexpended appropriations. The new department is meant to go into effect in July of 2024 after a commissioner is named. The transition plan calls for administration to spend the next year preparing for the department to be established. The necessary transfers would then begin and take place over the following year, until July 1, 2025.

    The 2024 Legislature created the statutory infrastructure for the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families in Chapter 80 of Minn. Laws and refined its duties as a state agency. 
    Agency heads:

    Commissioners: Tikki Brown (July 2024 - )
    Reports:
    Establishing the Department of Children, Youth, and Families Transition: Report to the Minnesota Legislature (March 1, 2024)
    Department of Children, Youth, and Families (December 2023)
    DCYF Statutory Language Explainer (2023)
    Note: The Legislative Reference Library may have additional reports on or by this group available through our catalog.
    Documents/Articles:
    Governor Walz selects Tikki Brown to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, 4/29/2024.
    The Department of Human Services is breaking up. What does that mean for Minnesotans?. Star Tribune, 3/15/2024.
    Launching the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Minnesota Counties, Winter 2024.
    A new Minnesota department will focus on children and families. Imprint News, 2/6/2024.
    Minnesota begins building new children-focused agency. Minnesota Reformer, 8/7/2023.
    Minnesota Department of Human Services to be broken up after years of scrutiny. Star Tribune, 7/2/2023.
    Minnesota lawmakers pledge at least $300 million toward early education. Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), 5/31/2023.
    Panel approves measure to establish state agency focused on children, families. Session Daily, 3/7/2023.
    Proposed Department of Children, Youth and Families. MN Department of Education, 2/2/2023.
    Record last updated: 04/30/2024
     

    All information on this group from the Library’s collection of agency notebooks has been digitized. These materials are incorporated into the “documents/articles” section of the record. Please contact a librarian with any questions. The Minnesota Agencies database is a work in progress.

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