Minnesota Agencies

Pursuant to Minnesota Supreme Court Order (C2-95-1476), the Task Force was charged to address the following:

A. Identify court rules, standards, procedures, and policies and state and federal laws designed to achieve safe, timely, and permanent placements for abused and neglected children;

B. Evaluate performance of the judicial system in delivering the services provided in the identified rules, standards, procedures, policies, and laws;

C. Assess the quality and adequacy of the information available to courts in child welfare cases;

D. Assess the extent to which existing rules, standards, procedures, policies and laws facilitate or impede achievement of permanent and safe placement of children and the extent to which requirements imposed on the courts impose significant administrative burdens on the courts; and

E. Examine the cooperation between state court system and tribal court systems and compliance to the Indian Child Welfare Act.

The Foster Care and Adoption Task Force was convened in October 1995. The Task Force divided itself into two committees and eight subcommittees which met over the course of a year. 

A public hearing was held on December 10, 1996. Following review of the written and oral comments received, the final recommendations of the Task Force were developed and published in January 1997.

The Task Force was comprised of 31 members and a number of unofficial adjunct members. Please see a link to the 1997 report for a list of names.

Chair: Honorable Edward Toussaint, Jr., Chief Judge, Minnesota Court of Appeals

Vice Chair: Honorable Kathleen Blatz, Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court