Committee Membership
2007 - 2008
Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:15 p.m. in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
I'm a rebel
Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:15 p.m. in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
Click here for the Minnesota Citizen Review Panel's Reports |
In 1996, Congress amended the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). This required each state to establish at least three citizen review panels in order to receive Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants Program funding. In Minnesota, panels have been established in Chisago, Ramsey, Winona, and Washington Counties. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) plans to expand citizen review panels throughout the state. |
Working together for children’s well-being |
Citizen review panels provide opportunities for community members to play an integral role in ensuring the child protection system is protecting children from abuse and neglect and helping find permanent homes for them. While the panels are required to review the state’s CAPTA plan, they also evaluate different aspects of the child protection system in their own communities. Made up of 11 to 16 citizens each, these panels represent a partnership among: |
• Citizens |
• Community agencies |
• County child protection systems |
• Minnesota Department of Human Services. |
Serving multiple purposes |
To ensure the state’s child protection system is working well, citizen review panels: |
• Evaluate how well their county complies with the state’s CAPTA plan |
• Consult with their county’s child protection agency on other important child protection standards in their county |
• Prepare and make available to the public an annual report summarizing the panel’s activities |
• Review the consistency of the child protection system’s practice and policy compliance |
• Offer insight that those working within the system may miss and provide feedback on what is or isn’t working |
• Analyze trends and recommend policy changes |
• Provide outside validation of the child protection system’s successes and staff efforts |
• Increase community understanding of and investment in the child protection system |
• Provide input on the use of community resources |
• Promote cooperation among community resources and county child protection services |
• Advocate for needed resources to protect children from abuse and neglect, and find them permanent homes quickly. |
Serving on citizen review panels |
Panel members listen well, work as part of a team, are sensitive to diversity, maintain confidentiality, participate in training, and serve a two-year term. These community volunteers, appointed by the DHS commissioner and county commissioners, participate in training in: |
• Child abuse and neglect issues |
• Permanency laws, including family reunification, case plans, and reasonable efforts toward family reunification |
• Alternatives to family reunification, including long-term foster care, transfer of legal custody, termination of parental rights, and adoption |
• Child development and attachment issues |
• Cultural considerations, including the Indian Child Welfare Act and heritage preservation |
• Dynamics of domestic violence |
• Legal and court processes |
• Cultural diversity |
• Chemical and mental health |
• Education and community resources. |
Working to strengthen the child protection system |
Panel members are responsible for giving their outside perspective on the internal workings of the child protection system. To accomplish this, panels: |
• Meet regularly (at least once every three months) |
• Review records, case files, and reports |
• Gather information through interviews and observation |
• Provide independent insight |
• Report findings and recommendations to key leaders |
• Receive ongoing support and consultation from county agencies and DHS staff. |
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The Minnesota Department of Human Services plans to expand Citizen Review Panels, on a voluntary basis, in counties throughout the state. Of special interest to county child-protection workers and community leaders, DHS has prepared Guidelines on ways to invite citizen participation and encourage community investment in the protection of children. |
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Or to learn more, contact the DHS citizen review panels expert by e-mail at Dhs.Child.Safety-Permanency@state.mn.us or call 651-431-4660. |
Annual Reports |
2006 Minnesota Citizen Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
2005 Minnesota Citizen Panel Annual report (PDF) |
2004 Minnesota Citizen Review Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
2003 Minnesota Citizen Review Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
2003 Chisago County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
2003 Ramsey County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
2003 Washington County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
2003 Winona County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
2002 Minnesota Citizen Review Panels Annual Report |
2002 Chisago County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
2002 Ramsey County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
2002 Washington County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
2002 Winona County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report (PDF) |
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2001 Minnesota Citizen Review Panels Annual Report |
2001 Chisago County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report |
2001 Ramsey County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report |
2001 Washington County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report |
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2000 Minnesota Citizens Review Panels Annual Report |
2000 Chisago County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report |
2000 Ramsey County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report |
2000 Washington County Citizen Review Panel Annual Report |
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1999 Minnesota Citizen Review Panels Annual Report |
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