DCYF Intergovernmental Advisory Council
The Intergovernmental Advisory Council 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.
Find here the IAC charter, bylaws, member information, meeting dates, work plan, recommendations, and annual reports.
The Intergovernmental Advisory Council 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.
Find here the IAC charter, bylaws, member information, meeting dates, work plan, recommendations, and annual reports.
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IAC charter available for adoption
Share IAC charter available for adoption on Facebook Share IAC charter available for adoption on Twitter Share IAC charter available for adoption on Linkedin Email IAC charter available for adoption linkDCYF 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.
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.
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DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, AMC and MACSSA representatives develop IAC charter
Share DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, AMC and MACSSA representatives develop IAC charter on Facebook Share DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, AMC and MACSSA representatives develop IAC charter on Twitter Share DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, AMC and MACSSA representatives develop IAC charter on Linkedin Email DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, AMC and MACSSA representatives develop IAC charter linkFollowing Tribal consultations in the latter half of 2024, along with conversations with representatives from the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC), and the Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA), DCYF drafted an IAC concept charter for consideration by representatives from DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, AMC, and MACSSA.
On June 23, 2025, and July 21, 2025, representatives from DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, and designated county organizations met to review, discuss, and refine the charter for the IAC. Additional opportunities were provided for input and feedback on the charter draft prior to August 13, 2025.
Following Tribal consultations in the latter half of 2024, along with conversations with representatives from the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC), and the Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA), DCYF drafted an IAC concept charter for consideration by representatives from DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, AMC, and MACSSA.
On June 23, 2025, and July 21, 2025, representatives from DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, and designated county organizations met to review, discuss, and refine the charter for the IAC. Additional opportunities were provided for input and feedback on the charter draft prior to August 13, 2025.
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Minnesota Statutes enacted to require IAC be established
Share Minnesota Statutes enacted to require IAC be established on Facebook Share Minnesota Statutes enacted to require IAC be established on Twitter Share Minnesota Statutes enacted to require IAC be established on Linkedin Email Minnesota Statutes enacted to require IAC be established linkThe State of Minnesota established a new cabinet-level agency, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) on July 1, 2024. All programs were transferred to the new agency by June 30, 2025.
When the transition was proposed during the 2023 legislative session, counties asked for a formal way to partner and engage with the new department.
Establishing legislation included a required transition report to the legislature to include recommendations, developed in coordination with county and Tribal governments, for how to coordinate and partner with county and Tribal governments, including through use of a governing authority, suchContinue reading
The State of Minnesota established a new cabinet-level agency, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) on July 1, 2024. All programs were transferred to the new agency by June 30, 2025.
When the transition was proposed during the 2023 legislative session, counties asked for a formal way to partner and engage with the new department.
Establishing legislation included a required transition report to the legislature to include recommendations, developed in coordination with county and Tribal governments, for how to coordinate and partner with county and Tribal governments, including through use of a governing authority, such as an intergovernmental advisory committee.
A DCYF implementation workgroup with county partners developed the initial proposed IAC structure and necessary legislative language and updated the language following discussion and engagement from Tribes. The legislative language was included in Governor Walz's 2024 supplemental budget, and the language was passed and funded through MN Session Laws 2024, Ch. 115, Art. 15, Sec. 12.
Contact and Questions
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Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator
Phone 651-539-8195 Email alison.mcintyre@state.mn.us -
Transition Director | DCYF County Relations
Phone 651-539-8174 Email jane.hardwick@state.mn.us
Documents Library
Meeting Materials
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2026 May 21
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Prevention Resources
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DCYF Child Safety and Permanency Strategic Plan Overview
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DCYF Child Welfare Programs Overview (118 KB) (pdf)
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MinnesotaSFY2022_ChildTrends_July2025.pdf (912 KB) (pdf)
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CY2025 Human Services Allocations Summary (416 KB) (pdf)
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Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act Evaluation Report
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Chapin Hall Policy Brief Economic-and-Concrete-Supports to Support Child Family Well-Being 2021-07.pdf (6.25 MB) (pdf)
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2026 April 29
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2026 January 08
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January 08 2026 IAC Meeting Agenda (111 KB) (pdf)
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2025 11-06 IAC Meeting Notes.pdf (197 KB) (pdf)
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November 6 IAC workplan input notes
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DCYF IAC Charter as of January 5 2026
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DCYF IAC Membership listing
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Whole Family Approach handout Six Key Components of Family Well-Being
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2026 01-08 IAC Meeting Presentation Slides (3.72 MB) (pdf)
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2026 01.08 IAC Meeting Notes DRAFT.pdf (227 KB) (pdf)
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2026 01.08 IAC WFA and Workplan Development Results (280 KB) (pdf)
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2025 November 06
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November 6 2025 IAC Meeting Agenda
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2025 11-06 IAC Meeting Notes (197 KB) (pdf)
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2025 11.06 IAC Workplan Development Brainstorm Results.pdf (439 KB) (pdf)
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IAC Inaugural Meeting Presentation Slides
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DCYF Strategic Plan
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DCYF IAC Charter (effective 11.5.2025)
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IAC Members (effective 11.5.2025)
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DCYF Photo Release Form
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Bylaws Subcommittee
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2026 04-07 10 am Bylaws Draft for 04-10 Subcommittee.pdf (281 KB) (pdf)
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2026 04 10 DCYF IAC Bylaws Subcommittee Meeting Agenda.pdf (208 KB) (pdf)
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2026 03 24 DCYF IAC Bylaws Subcommittee Meeting Notes.pdf (197 KB) (pdf)
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2026 03 24 DCYF IAC Bylaws Subcommittee Agenda.pdf (212 KB) (pdf)
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2026 02 26 DCYF IAC Bylaws Subcommittee Notes (301 KB) (pdf)
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2026 02 26 DCYF IAC Bylaws Subcommittee Agenda (289 KB) (pdf)
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IAC FAQs
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General FAQs
- How is the IAC different from the DCYF Implementation Intergovernmental Advisory Group that has already been in place?
- Why has an IAC been established for DCYF?
- What happens if a Tribal Nation isn’t interested in participating now, but later wants to?
- How does the IAC interact with existing advisory committees, tasks forces, and similar groups?
- Specifically, how will the IAC impact the American Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council (AICWAC)?
- Is the IAC like or based on the MN Department of Health’s SCHSAC (State Community Health Services Advisory Committee)?
- How does the IAC interact with the DCYF Commissioner’s requirement to consult with Tribal leaders under MN Statutes 10.65?
- Tribes are sovereign nations. Why would they be at the same table as county governments –which are creations of the State of MN—in advising on and discussing DCYF matters?
- How do open meeting laws apply to the IAC?
- How does the work of the IAC get implemented at the local level and how are the members responsible for disseminating information?
- Who do I contact with questions or input?


