MN HF2954

Creates the Minnesota Children and Family Investment Program Act to modify MFIP and child care assistance programs, citing research showing 90 percent of brain development occurs in the first five years of life and that seven out of ten MFIP recipients are children.

Extends child care assistance eligibility redetermination from every six months to every 12 months and adds a new category allowing MFIP child-only cases to receive up to 12 hours of child care assistance per week if the child is not enrolled in other early childhood programming.

Adds attending a child's early childhood activities, including developmental screenings and follow-up services, as a qualifying work activity for MFIP participants and requires employment and training providers to coordinate referrals with county agencies and health plans.

Requires MFIP orientation and employment plan reviews to include information about early childhood development, health and developmental screening, and available early childhood resources and programs.

Establishes a task force on low-income families to review state programs and tax policies affecting low-income families and make recommendations by January 15, 2014; appropriates funding for an MFIP mentoring pilot program using the circles of support model.