In light of recent coverage led by the Star Tribune, many people have offered perspectives on the important issue of improving our state's child protection system. One viewpoint — ours — has been largely absent until now.
With a membership of social services directors from all 87 Minnesota counties, we dedicate our careers to protecting vulnerable children, and to using our voices to advocate for those kids who deserve our best care and expertise. In a state whose investment in child welfare services is among the lowest in the country, our work is arguably even more critical.
County social services staff walk a careful line between providing good service to each individual and following the exact letter of the law. Our work is emotionally difficult and rarely clear-cut, but we come back every day to serve the children who need us.
Like other Minnesotans, we feel deeply impacted by the children who have died or who have been harmed while in the system. Recent tragedies reported in the Star Tribune tug at our hearts, forever reminding us of our commitment to our ongoing learning and improvement.
As Minnesota considers changes to the child protection system, we believe it is critical to make our most vulnerable children a top priority. During the economic downturn, the Legislature imposed $36 million in state reductions for child welfare services. Today, the state contributes less than 20 percent of the funding for these services, forcing us to rely heavily on local property taxes and leading to varying levels of service from one county to another.
In spite of this, Minnesota's child fatality rate is less than half the national average (0.78 per 100,000 children in Minnesota vs. 2.2 per 100,000 children nationally). However, we have to do better, and we will.
We understand that policymakers must make difficult choices. But we as a state must choose to protect our children. Minnesota has long been looked to as a leader in this area, employing the best models to prevent and reduce incidents of child maltreatment. That leadership is at risk, along with too many Minnesota children.
Looking forward, we have a dedicated and professional child protection workforce that deserves our recognition, respect and support. These individuals are on the front lines every day making judgments on situations that are rarely black and white — situations that can be matters of life and death. They work tirelessly under extreme stress because they are dedicated to the children who need them.
