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.

DCYF hires IAC coordinator

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DCYF is pleased to announce that Alison McIntyre has accepted the position of Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator. She will join DCYF on September 24.

As the Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator, Alison will provide administrative and programmatic support for the new, statutorily required Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC). She will provide day to day coordination of advisory committee functions, including drafting and executing work plans, managing the flow of information between the IAC and DCYF areas, developing and providing recommendations from the IAC to the Commissioner, among many other things.

Alison brings more than a decade of experience in leadership roles andContinue reading

DCYF is pleased to announce that Alison McIntyre has accepted the position of Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator. She will join DCYF on September 24.

As the Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator, Alison will provide administrative and programmatic support for the new, statutorily required Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC). She will provide day to day coordination of advisory committee functions, including drafting and executing work plans, managing the flow of information between the IAC and DCYF areas, developing and providing recommendations from the IAC to the Commissioner, among many other things.

Alison brings more than a decade of experience in leadership roles and direct service in public health and human services. Most recently, she served for 8 years as the Public Health and Human Services Director for Cook County, MN. As the agency director, she worked closely with area Tribal leaders and human services staff and also managed the administration and activities of two citizen advisory boards, fostering partnerships with community members and service providers to address complex challenges. Alison holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, specializing in human services leadership and human-centered redesign. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and is trained as a Restorative Justice Circle Keeper.
Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA) adopts DCYF IAC charter

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

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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.

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.
DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, AMC and MACSSA representatives develop IAC charter

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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.
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.
Minnesota Statutes enacted to require IAC be established

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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, 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.