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Landmark Minnesota Law is Signed
“This
is the way governments should work,” said Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy
Flanagan, a citizen of the White Earth Nation, not long after Gov. Tim
Walz signed the African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare
Disproportionately Act into law.
“It’s
not just about one leader — it takes a village,” she said,
acknowledging the Black and Latino leaders at the signing. “And if you
look around, this is the village.”
Walz’s signature formalized a novel law
that will require caseworkers in the state to better engage with
parents in planning and selecting the services they need to reunite with
their children. Social and cultural values will have to be taken into
consideration, with judges reviewing and approving the adequacy of the
steps taken.
Among
the law’s key provisions is a broader application of the “active
efforts” standard for preventing family separation and hastening
reunifications from foster care, which takes the state’s expectations a
step above what is required in federal law.
“Other
states should follow our lead,” Flanagan said. “As a Native woman, this
bill hit home. So I’m incredibly grateful for all of the folks behind
me who helped us get here today.”
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