Share Interested Tribal Nations and Association of Minnesota Counties adopt IAC charter on Facebook
Share Interested Tribal Nations and Association of Minnesota Counties adopt IAC charter on Linkedin
Email Interested Tribal Nations and Association of Minnesota Counties adopt IAC charter link
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Council and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation Business Committee adopted the DCYF IAC charter on September 2, 2025, and September 9, 2025, respectively. The Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) adopted the charter on September 10, 2025.
Share DCYF IAC established; White Earth Nation adopts IAC on Facebook
Share DCYF IAC established; White Earth Nation adopts IAC on Linkedin
Email DCYF IAC established; White Earth Nation adopts IAC link
On September 16, 2025, Fond du Lac Band, Leech Lake Band, 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.
White Earth Nation notified DCYF on September 17, 2025, that they adopted the charter on August 29, 2025. Two additional Tribal Nations have each informed DCYF that they are currently reviewing the charter or moving it 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.
Share DCYF hires IAC coordinator on Facebook
Share DCYF hires IAC coordinator on Linkedin
Email DCYF hires IAC coordinator link
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.
Share Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA) adopts DCYF IAC charter on Facebook
Share Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA) adopts DCYF IAC charter on Linkedin
Email Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA) adopts DCYF IAC charter link
The Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators adopted the DCYF IAC charter on August 21, 2025.
Share IAC charter available for adoption on Facebook
Share IAC charter available for adoption on Linkedin
Email IAC charter available for adoption link
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 Linkedin
Email DCYF, interested Tribal Nations, AMC and MACSSA representatives develop IAC charter link
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.
Share Minnesota Statutes enacted to require IAC be established on Facebook
Share Minnesota Statutes enacted to require IAC be established on Linkedin
Email Minnesota Statutes enacted to require IAC be established link
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.
General FAQs