MN SF3228

Establishes a pilot project in select counties (including Hennepal) to use adoption assistance disqualification standards (section 256N.22) instead of stricter foster care standards (section 245C.15) for background studies of relatives applying for child foster care licenses.

Requires the commissioner to evaluate pilot project success by measuring child maltreatment rates and permanency outcomes in relative foster homes in pilot counties compared to non-pilot counties, with a report due June 1, 2020.

Creates a second pilot project in a cohort of counties to develop and implement a child protection safety and risk-based framework response system that considers factors including child supervision needs, medical/mental health needs, caregiver behavior, child age, prior maltreatment history, and time elapsed since alleged maltreatment.

Requires progress reports on the child protection framework by June 1, 2019, and an implementation report by June 1, 2020, assessing child safety outcomes and operational efficiencies achieved by the pilot counties.

Permits pilot counties to continue using the framework if deemed successful by the commissioner and cohort counties, with continuation contingent on demonstrated effectiveness.