Public Notice Detail

ST. PAUL, MN (September 17, 2002) – Sixteen Minnesota counties recently began participation in the “Children’s Justice Initiative,” a joint venture between the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to improve the processing of child protection cases, and more important, the outcomes for abused and neglected children.  Twelve other counties commenced the project last year.

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen A. Blatz and Minnesota Department of Human Services Acting Commissioner Linda Anderson will kick off the second phase of the Children’s Justice Initiative at a conference to be held September 18-20.  Attending the conference will be county-based teams of judges, social workers, county attorneys, public defenders, Guardians ad Litem, court administrators, foster parents, school officials, law enforcement officers, court services and corrections officers, medical and mental health providers and tribal community representatives.  The multidisciplinary county teams will learn more about the goals of the Children’s Justice Initiative and best practices for making necessary improvements in the child protection system.

The counties joining the initiative this year include: Aitkin, Blue Earth, Brown, Clay, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, LeSueur, Mille Lacs, Mower, Nicollet, St. Louis (Hibbing/Virginia), Sherburne, Todd, Yellow Medicine and Waseca.

Minnesota will be the first state in the country to implement a statewide initiative designed to meet state and federal guidelines for more quickly placing abused and neglected children in permanent homes in the hope of dramatically improving long-term outcomes for children.

What:              Children’s Justice Initiative statewide conference “Through the Eyes of the Child:  A Commitment to Improve”

Who:               Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen A. Blatz, Minnesota Human Services Department Acting Commissioner Linda Anderson, The Honorable William Byars, Jr., Children’s Law Center, University of South Carolina School of Law

When:             9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.,Wednesday, September 18, 2002

 Where:            The Northland Inn, 7025 Northland Drive, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

About the Children’s Justice Initiative

The Children’s Justice Initiative is a five-year plan launched by the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Department of Human Services in December 2000 that brings together juvenile courts, social services agencies and other key child protection stakeholders to improve the processing of child protection cases and the outcomes for abused and neglected children.  The effort is designed to more quickly provide permanent homes for abused and neglected children (either through reunification or placement with another family) in an expedited manner.  Studies show that maltreated children who are in stable, loving environments are more likely to lead healthy and productive lives, and less likely to engage in criminal behavior later in life.