Minnesota’s Round 4 Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Program Improvement Plan (PIP) Approved

On September 24, 2026, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) approved Minnesota’s Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Round 4 Program Improvement Plan (PIP). This approval marks an important milestone as Minnesota moves from PIP planning into implementation and begins putting the strategies and improvement activities outlined in the plan into action.

Through the PIP Pilot, Minnesota will have an opportunity to test new approaches, learn together about what works, and use what we learn to strengthen the child welfare system and improve outcomes for children, youth and families. The PIP focuses on three key areas:

• Improving outcomes for children with complex needs by strengthening coordination across the systems that serve children and families and partnering with local and/or state agencies to identify, implement and evaluate strategies that improve outcomes for children with complex needs.
• Reducing reentry into foster care by identifying and testing approaches that can better support children and families after they exit care.
• Improving father engagement by working with county and Tribal agencies to strengthen efforts to identify, locate and engage fathers and paternal relatives throughout the child welfare process.

This work will involve continued collaboration with families with lived experience, community organizations, Tribes, counties, courts and other partners. Some of the work will be tested through Innovation Zones, which will allow local communities to identify challenges, develop strategies and learn together about what works in their unique settings.

Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, expertise and feedback throughout the planning process. Your input has helped shape Minnesota’s PIP and will continue to be an important part of this work. We look forward to continuing to learn and work together to improve outcomes for children and families across Minnesota.

Stay Informed and get involved

Upcoming Webinar

Round 4 Child and Family Services Review (CFSR): Program Improvement Plan (PIP) Overview

Tuesday, November 17, 2026

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Registration Link: Click Here

Overview:

Since receiving Minnesota’s Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Round 4 final report in November 2025, we have worked to develop a Program Improvement Plan (PIP) to address identified strengths and opportunities for improvement across our child welfare system. Now that our PIP has been officially approved, this webinar will walk through the CFSR timeline, review the priorities and strategies outlined in the PIP, and discuss how progress will be measured. We will also explore opportunities for individuals with lived experience, community partners, Tribes, and counties to get involved in implementation as we move from planning to action.

Recommended Audience:

We welcome the participation of parents and individuals with lived experience, whose perspectives are vital to shaping meaningful and effective outcomes. All partners and collaborators in the child welfare, children’s mental health and developmental disabilities, and truancy communities are encouraged to participate in the event. This includes Tribal and County agency caseworkers, supervisors, and managers; CJI Team members; judicial officers; court administration staff; law clerks; county attorneys; social workers; attorneys for parents and children; guardians ad litem; and Tribal representatives.

Resources

ACF’s CFSR Technical Bulletin #14: A Home for Every Child Initiative

ACF’s A Home for Every Child Resource Page

ACF’s A Home for Every Child Innovation Challenge

ACF’s Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Statewide Data Indicators Dashboard

Minnesota’s Child and Family Services Review Round 4: Program Improvement Plan Hub: This site includes updates and information about the PIP, resources to help you stay informed as implementation moves forward and will include ongoing opportunities for engagement as they arise. Please check the site often for updates and opportunities to share your feedback.

Questions

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Child Safety and Permanency (CSP) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Team at dcyf.csp.cfsr@state.mn.us.