The Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA) is charged with providing training on best practices in child welfare to ensure effective services are provided to all children and families. In carrying out that charge, we wanted to bring your awareness to the Informed Memorandum (IM) issued by the Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services related to Guidance for Title IV-B and IV-E Agencies When Serving LGBTQI+ Children and Youth.
Child welfare agencies receiving IV-B and IV-E funding, as well as their federally funded contractors, should consult this memorandum to guide their work when determining how best to serve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI+) children and youth, including those with non-conforming gender identity or expression who are involved with the child welfare system.
Conversations about the Texas law and understanding implications are critical to our ongoing work and discussions. As child welfare professionals we have an obligation, as outlined in federal policy and supported through research, to act in the best interest of children who are exploring and expressing their gender identity.
Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about this or other issues affecting child welfare practice in Minnesota.