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Senate Counsel, Research and Fiscal Analysis
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Minnesota Senate Bldg.
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95 University Avenue W. Suite 3300
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St. Paul, MN 55155
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(651) 296-4791
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Alexis C. Stangl
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Director
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Senate
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State of Minnesota
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S.F. No. 2125 - Children in Foster Care Human Services Protections Requirement
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Author:
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Senator Jim Abeler
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Prepared By:
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Date:
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March 11, 2019
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S.F. No. 2125 requires the commissioner of human services to ensure and provide a list of 33 child’s rights to children place in child care. The list must be provided immediately upon placement or during the child’s initial meeting with a county social worker, and annually thereafter. The list must also be provided with training to county workers and administrators. The list of rights includes:
- Access to county and state contact information to submit complaints of rights violations
- Ongoing relationships with relatives if the child so desires, unless the relationships are documented to be not in the child’s best interests
- A meeting with a family facilitator within one week of placement
- A preplacement visit with any potential foster family
- No placement in a secure detention facility for respite care or temporary emergency placement
- Notice of case proceedings and copies of all court orders and reports pertaining to the child’s case
- Timely notice of case plan changes
- The ability to easily, regularly contact with the child’s attorney or guardian ad litem
- The ability to share information confidentially with the child’s social worker, unless the information concerns safety
- A safe environment with the child’s own bed
- Privacy and personal space, absent documented safety concerns
- A key to the home, for children over the age of ten
- Access to a working telephone or mobile phone
- Prompt, unrestricted receipt of the child’s mail
- Access to transportation as needed
- Necessary personal hygiene products
- Nutritious food
- Sufficient luggage to transport belongings when moving
- Three days’ supply of clean and appropriate clothing upon entry to foster care
- The ability to retrieve belongings from the previous home and keep gifts received in foster care
- Appropriate manner of discipline
- The ability to practice the child’s chosen religion, facilitated by the foster family as necessary
- Freedom from punishment or reproach for expressing the child’s sexual orientation or gender identity
- Access to culturally significant events and customs, and the child’s cultural community
- Assistance with tribal enrollment where applicable
- Permission to participate in school and extracurricular activities
- Inclusion in foster care family vacations where possible
- The ability to spend overnights outside the foster care home, at the foster parents’ discretion and once the child is 16 years old
- Regular meetings with a peer support group or mentor
- Assistance with obtaining employment, postsecondary education, and independent living skills
- Assistance with obtaining car insurance and a driver’s license
- Assistance with establishing a bank account
- Receipt of an annual credit report, where applicable
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Last review or update: 03/11/2019
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