Intergovernmental Advisory Council Advances Prevention Prioritization and Begins Draft Recommendation Development at September 30 Meeting

The Intergovernmental Advisory Council (IAC) convened in St. Cloud on September 30, 2026. The session focused on grounding members in DCYF’s transition‑year budget context, reconnecting with July’s prevention themes, and moving collectively toward draft recommendations for the Commissioner.

Budget and Legislative Context

DCYF staff provided an update on the transition‑year budget process, outlining MMB’s limited proposal criteria and the challenges posed by an uncertain 2027 legislative landscape. Members discussed the role of the IAC in shaping future proposals, the importance of understanding county and Tribal Nation fiscal impacts, and the scope of the Human Services Transformation Study, including potential opportunities for IAC involvement.

Prevention Priorities: Data Walk & Generative Decision‑Making

Building on July’s prevention work, members completed a two‑round data walk to refine understanding of themes such as funding sustainability, workforce needs, and cross‑system navigation. Members then used dot‑voting to highlight high‑impact opportunities, quick wins, and long‑term lifts. The council also began using a structured generative decision‑making process to shape draft recommendations. Early proposal areas included:

• IAC participation in the Human Services Transformation Study
• Strategies to maximize federal funding and reduce administrative burden for counties and Tribal Nations administering DCYF programs.

Next Steps

Members identified several areas needing further analysis, which will carry forward into the next phase of work. Draft recommendations will continue to be refined at the November 19 meeting.

Additional details from the September 30 IAC meeting including presentation materials and the full agenda are available in the meeting materials folder here on the IAC engagement site.