Active Efforts/MAAFPACWDA Training

As part of the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA), a new training has been developed by the Training Academy for child welfare professionals to better understand this new legislation, how it will be implemented into their work, and what will be expected of Minnesota county agencies.

This in-person, instructor-led course is called Active Efforts Training: Family Preservation and the MAAFPCWDA Framework (CWTA X221). Trainings are currently being offered ONLY to Hennepin County and Ramsey County staff as they are the first counties to phase-in these new practices. More training will be developed and offered statewide as we approach full-staff implementation in 2027.

A new cohort of Community Trainers has been hired specifically to deliver MAAFPCWDA training. Their unique expertise and experiences with communities that are historically and disproportionately represented in child welfare will help enrich the learning experience. These individuals bring an understanding of social and cultural norms associated with African Americans and others who are disproportionately represented, as well as an understanding of the effects of historical trauma.

Active Efforts are rigorous and concerted efforts to preserve families through placement prevention, and family reunification if placement occurs, and are most commonly discussed in trainings for the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA).

MAAFPCWDA was passed in 2024 and seeks to promote family stability by establishing minimum standards to prevent the arbitrary removal of children from their families and improve permanency outcomes, including family reunification. This initial four-hour training is designed to ensure county workers are prepared to utilize active efforts in their casework with disproportionately represented families, with special emphasis on African American families.

If you have questions about this new training, please contact us at info@mnchildwelfaretraining.com