Children and family social services

The children and family social services division is responsible to respond to community concerns about child safety, child well-being and family stability. Our practice model is to engage families, their support networks and other professionals working with them into a partnership to help ensure the children are safe and well. Our staff work with children and families to identify their needs and strengths, develop a plan for services that support them and help ensure the safety and well-being of children. These services are designed to reduce the risk of abuse, find safe alternatives to out-of-home placement and assure safety and permanency for children in out-of-home care.

MNPrairie  offers access to some targeted early intervention services in an effort to respond to risk factors early to increase the family’s capacity to meet the developmental needs of their children.  

Children and family purpose statement

 MNPrairie children and family social services partners with families to help ensure that children are more likely to be safe, have permanency and to be well in Dodge, Steele and Waseca counties.

Program areas

Child protection

  • Intake
  • Reports of child maltreatment
  • Information & referral
  • Community education and prevention
  • Child protection investigation & family assessment response
  • Child protection on-going services
  • Family involvement strategies (family group conferencing)
  • Parallel protection processes
  • Children In need of protection or services (CHIPS) court proceedings
  • Out-of-home placements of children

Adoption/guardianship


Child/family welfare services

  • Parenting support outreach assessment and services
  • Minor parent services
  • Children’s mental health services

Licensing


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