DCYF Intergovernmental Advisory Committee

The DCYF Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) met on January 8 in St. Paul. Over 30 leaders representing Minnesota counties, DCYF and participating Tribal nations gathered to discuss implementation of the Whole Family Approach across the state and other topics to inform advice and recommendations to the DCYF Commissioner.

Following the meeting, participating Tribal nations met to designate an IAC co-chair. Anna Deschampe, Grand Portage Tribal Programs Administrator was selected to chair the IAC along with Linnea Mirsch, St. Louis County Deputy Administrator Community & Human Services (representing Counties), and Jennifer Sommerfeld, Government Relations Director (representing DCYF).

The IAC brings together counties, DCYF and participating Tribal nations to provide advice and recommendations to the DCYF Commissioner in regard to planning, design, administration, funding, and evaluation of services to children, youth, and families.

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has signed onto a charter with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to join Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, White Earth Nation, Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC), and Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA) to participate in the DCYF Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC).

The IAC provides advice and recommendations to the DCYF Commissioner about services for Minnesota children, youth, and families.

The inaugural meeting of the DCYF Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) was held on November 6 in St. Paul. Leaders from across the State representing the State of Minnesota Children's Cabinet and Department of Children, Youth and Families; elected officials and human services leaders appointed by the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC), and the Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA); and leaders representing five participating Tribal Nations: Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and White Earth Nation gather following closing remarks from DCYF Commissioner Tikki Brown.

https://dcyf.mn.gov/news/new-intergovernmental-advisory-committee-strengthening-partnerships-children-youth-and-families

Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe have signed onto a charter with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to join Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, White Earth Nation, Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC), and Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA) to participate in the DCYF Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC).

The IAC provides advice and recommendations to the DCYF Commissioner about services for Minnesota children, youth, and families.

The initial meeting of the DCYF Intergovernmental Advisory Council (IAC) will be held on Thursday, November 6 from 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM at Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) building in St. Paul. The meeting details are still under development, but are expected to focus on relationship development; grounding in the IAC charter, logistics, and the DCYF strategic plan; and beginning to gather perspective about what subject areas the IAC should focus on in its first year.

The IAC brings human services leaders and elected officials from counties and participating Tribal Nations together to advise the DCYF Commissioner on how Minnesota plans for, designs, administers, funds, and evaluates services for children, youth, and families. The IAC was co-developed among DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, the Association of Minnesota Counties, and the Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators.

The IAC aims to maximize the value of public investments in the administration of DCYF services, in the form of positive outcomes for people and communities served, through effective partnerships among DCYF, Tribal Nations, and counties.

Fond du Lac Band, Leech Lake Band, White Earth Nation, Association MN Counties (AMC), and MN Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA) signed onto a charter with DCYF to establish an Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) to advise the Commissioner on the planning, design, administration, funding, and evaluation of services to Minnesota's children, youth, and families. DCYF is preparing for the inaugural IAC meeting to be scheduled in late October or early November, where the group will begin to establish its operating bylaws and develop a plan of subject areas to focus on in the coming year.

The Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA) adopted the DCYF IAC charter on August 21, 2025; and White Earth Nation adopted the charter on August 29, 2025. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Council and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation Business Committee adopted the charter on September 2, 2025, and September 9, 2025, respectively. The Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) adopted the charter on September 10, 2025. Three additional Tribal Nations have informed DCYF that they are moving through an approval process.

IAC is comprised of 1 representative from each participating Tribal Nation, 4 to 6 from DCYF, 2 to 5 from AMC, and up to 11 from MACSSA. Tribal Nations may choose to participate or withdraw from the IAC at any time.

The Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators adopted the DCYF IAC charter on August 21, 2025.

DCYF Commissioner Tikki Brown provided the final IAC charter to leaders of Minnesota Tribal Nations and county associations with an invitation to participate by adopting the charter.

The Commissioner noted the charter reflects both DCYF’s strategic priority to cultivate dynamic and effective partnerships and the input interested Tribes, AMC, and MACCSA had already shared through DCYF and Minnesota Management and Budget DCYF Implementation Office engagement efforts.

The IAC was co-developed with leaders from DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC), and the Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA). It was shaped directly by feedback received during Governor’s Children’s Cabinet and DCYF Implementation Office conversations with Tribal Nations and counties as part of preparing to establish DCYF.

The committee will serve as a forum to provide advice and recommendations to me and my successors on planning, design, administration, funding, and evaluation of services for children, youth, and families. Participation will also help strengthen collaboration between governments and foster shared understanding on priorities for Minnesota’s communities.