Hennepin County Seeks Citizens for Child Protection Panel

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners is seeking applicants for vacancies on the Hennepin County Child Protection Citizen Review Panel.

The panel has the responsibility to review compliance of state and local Child Protection Services agencies with respect to the State Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Plan. Other criteria the panel considers important may include coordination with foster care and adoption programs and review of child fatalities and near fatalities.

      The panel must:

         ·      Examine policies and procedures and, where appropriate, specific cases of both state and local agencies.

         ·      Maintain confidentiality.

         ·      Prepare an annual report with activities and recommendations.

         ·      Evaluate practice as well as policy and procedures.

         ·      Develop a means for public outreach and comment.

Panel members may review aspects of the Children and Family Services Review (CFSR) and offer suggestions to Hennepin County Child Protection on how to improve scores.

Panel members must be Hennepin County residents and cannot be county or court employees, including employees of the current County Attorney's Office, district court, social or court services employee, a foster care provider or an active paid guardian ad litem of Hennepin County. Initial terms are two years. Panel members cannot currently be involved in a child protection case, child custody dispute or criminal matter. Panel members must also sign releases authorizing a criminal records check and a child maltreatment records check

For more information about this vacancy, contact Denise T. Stewart, Human Services and Public Health Department: 612-879-3679.