Services Information System News Today

Minnesota has a history of failing to protect children from repeated harm and of disproportionately separating families of color. Legislators hope this year they laid the groundwork for long-term improvements

The 25-year-old computer system used to manage the state’s child protection cases and social service programs wastes hours each week of individual employees’ time and stalls legislative efforts to improve child welfare.

County workers and lawmakers have some choice words to describe the 25-year-old state information system used to manage child protection cases and social service programs: Slow. Archaic. A nightmare. "It's the most vulnerable people that we have in the state of Minnesota that are in this system," Pine County Commissioner Terry Lovgren said. "They need the most care, they need the most help, ...