Child protection, foster care, adoption: eDocs, forms and documents

• Emergency Relative Placement Foster Care Referral Form DHS-5178 (PDF)
• Engaging Families in Voluntary Child Welfare Services Practice Guide DHS-5881C (PDF)
• Title IV-E checklist DHS-6634 (PDF)
• Resource Guide for Mandated Reporters of Child Maltreatment Concerns DHS-2917 (PDF)
• Through the Eyes of a Child: Children's Justice Initiative - Toolkit: 20 recommended practices DHS-7285

 Home Study Agency Process Checklist DHS-4258C should be used when completing and documenting the home study process.

Other frequently used forms:

• Agreement Between Foster Parents and Placement Agency DHS-0139 (PDF)
• Notice of Contracted Per Diem Rates DHS-2825 (PDF)
• Birth Parent Social and Medical History DHS-3205 (PDF)
• Instructions for Completing the Title IV-E Foster Care Supplement to the Health Care Programs Application DHS-3478 (PDF)
• Commissioner's Designated Format for the Completion of an Adoption and Foster Care Study DHS-4258

To complete or update an assessment, use the Minnesota Adoption and Foster Care Home Study Assessment DHS-4258D, or the Minnesota Adoption and Child Foster Care Home Study Assessment Update DHS-4258E.

• The Minnesota Adoption and Child Foster Care Application DHS-4258A (PDF) and the  Minnesota Adoption and Foster Care Individual Fact Sheet DHS-4258B (PDF) must be sent to the local county social service agency or the private child placing agency. 
• Health Plan Notification of Foster Care and Child Protection Placement with Authorization Form DHS-5275 (PDF) 

Current and former foster youth can get up to $5,000 per school year for post-secondary education at colleges, universities, vocational, technical or trade schools. The Minnesota Education and Training Voucher (ETV) provides the funds. 

• Money for college for foster youth DHS-5339L, (PDF) 
• Online application DHS-5339, (PDF) accepted July 1 to June 30 annually
• Education and Training Program guidelines DHS-5339M, (PDF) 
• Education and Training Program Expense Guidelines DHS-5339B, (PDF) to help applicants with budgeting
• if youth have experienced a foster care placement in another state, verify placement information using the Education and Training Voucher Verification of Eligibility, DHS-5339A (PDF)

For more information about the program is one the Education and Training Voucher Program ETV page, or contact dhs.etvcoordinator@state.mn.us; or 651-431-4663.

Helping Youth Transition from Out-of-home Care into Adulthood, DHS-6530 (PDF) is a  best practice guide providing social workers with useful information and resources about independent living plans for youth age 14 and older who are currently or were formerly in out-of-home care.

Although strides have been made to lessen discrimination against minority sexual orientations, there remains both a lack of knowledge about, and some active negative bias towards those who identify on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally spectrum. The  Working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer youth DHS-6500 (PDF) practice guide is intended to increase the awareness, knowledge and skills of social workers and administrators in the child welfare system so they may effectively and competently meet the needs of LGBTQA youth and their families.

• Practice Guide for Post-Adoption Services DHS-4701 (PDF)
• Adoption Placement Agreement for a Child Under Guardianship of the Commissioner DHS-0312 (PDF)
• Adoptive Applicant Registration State Adoption Exchange DHS-0968 (PDF)
• Adoption and Concurrent Permanency Planning: Working together to help families DHS-4923 (PDF)

• Answers to Your Questions About Adoption DHS-0698 (PDF)
• Completing an Adoption in Minnesota: The rights and responsibilities of birth parents, prospective adoptive parents and adoption agencies DHS-3206(PDF)
• Completing an Adoption in Minnesota: The rights and responsibilities of birth parents, prospective adoptive parents and adoption agencies DHS-3206-MHN (PDF)
• Completing an Adoption in Minnesota: The rights and responsibilities of birth parents, prospective adoptive parents and adoption agencies DHS-3206-RUS (PDF)
• Completing an Adoption in Minnesota: The rights and responsibilities of birth parents, prospective adoptive parents and adoption agencies DHS-3206-SOM (PDF)
• Completing an Adoption in Minnesota: The rights and responsibilities of birth parents, prospective adoptive parents and adoption agencies DHS-3206-SPA (PDF)
• Completing an Adoption in Minnesota: The rights and responsibilities of birth parents, prospective adoptive parents and adoption agencies DHS-3206-VIE (PDF)
• Family Group Decision Making DHS-5421 (PDF)
• Paths to Permanency - Adoption of Children in Foster Care DHS-7024A (PDF)
• Paths to Permanency - Transfer of Permanent Legal and Physical Custody of Children in Foster Care  DHS-7024B (PDF)
• Practice Guide for Post-adoption Search Services DHS-4701 (PDF)

• Adoption and Concurrency Permanency Planning DHS-4923 (PDF)
• Finding families for Minnesota's waiting children DHS-4746 (PDF)
• Permanency support services for adoptive, foster and kinship families DHS-4925 (PDF)
• Concurrent Permanency Planning: Reducing time in foster care DHS-4926 (PDF)
• Northstar Care for Children: Encouraging safe, permanent homes for children DHS-6736 (PDF)

• Adoptive Applicant Registration: State Adoption Exchange DHS 0968 (PDF)
• Birth Parent Social and Medical History DHS 3205 (PDF)
• Certificate of Adoption (MDF) (PDF)
• Child's Birth History (to be completed by medical personnel) DHS 3380 (PDF)
• Commissioner's Designated Format for Completion of an Adoption and Foster Care Study
  • Instructions DHS-4258 (PDF)
  • Application DHS-4258A (PDF)
  • Individual fact Sheet DHS-4258B (PDF)
  • Home Study Agency Process Checklist DHS-4258C (PDF)
  • Home Study Assessment DHS-4258D (PDF)
  • Home Study Assessment Update DHS-4258E (PDF)
• Consents
  • Consent of Parents or Guardian of Minor Parents to Placement of the Child DHS 1834 (PDF)
  • Background and Health History DHS 3235 (PDF)
  • Consent of Child Over 14 Years of Age DHS 1956 (PDF)
  • Consent of Parent to Adoption and Waiver of Notice of Hearing Executed Before An Agency DHS 1957-ENG (PDF)
  • Consentimiento del padre/madre para la adopción y renuncia a la notificación de audiencia DHS-1957-SPA (PDF)
  • Consent of Parents or Guardian of Minor Parent To the Adoption of the Child Executed Before an Agency DHS 3197-ENG (PDF)
  • Consentimiento de padres o tutores de un menor que es padre/madre para la adopción de un niño suscrito ante una agencia DHS-3197-SPA (PDF)
  • Consent of Parent to Adoption and Waiver of Notice of Hearing Executed Before a Judicial Officer DHS 3198 (PDF)
  • Consent of Parents or Guardians of Minor Parent to Adoption of Child: Executed Before a Judicial Officer DHS 3199 (PDF)
  • Consent of Parent to Adoption (pursuant to Minnesota Statues, section 260C.515, subd. 3) and Waiver of Notice of Adoption Hearings and/or Proceedings Executed Before a Judicial Officer DHS 3502 (PDF)
• Hospital Discharge Report DHS 3384 (PDF)
• Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
  • Instructions for Completing DHS-4266/ICPC-100A DHS-4266A (PDF)
  • Request DHS 4266 (PDF)
  • Instructions for Completing DHS-4267/ICPC-100B DHS-4267A (PDF)
  • Report on Child's Placement Status DHS 4267 (PDF)
  • Priority Home Study Request (to be completed by the sending state) DHS-4268 (PDF)
  • Receiving State's Priority Home Study (to be completed by the sending state) DHS-4269 (PDF)
  • Summary (financial and medical plan) DHS-1542d (PDF)
• Information for Attorney or Family to File Adoption Petition (For Children Under Guardianship of the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services DHS-0329 (PDF)
• Birth Certificate Application (MDH) (PDF)
• Nonrecurring Adoption Expense Reimbursement Program (for families not receiving Adoption Assistance) DHS-4426 (PDF)
• Outline for Health and Social History Narrative DHS-3382 (PDF)
• Report of Adoptive Placement (for children not under guardianship of the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services DHS-0178 (PDF)
• Post-placement Assessment and Report to Court DHS-0188 (PDF)

• Minnesota Child Welfare Disparities DHS-6056 (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report 2020 DHS-5408Ma (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report 2019 DHS-5408La (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report 2018 DHS-5408Ka (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report 2017 DHS-5408Ja (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report 2016 DHS-5408Ia (PDF)
• Minnesota's Out-of-home Care and Permanency Report 2015 DHS-5408Ha (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2020 DHS-5408M (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2019 DHS-5408L (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2018 DHS-5408K (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2017 DHS-5408J (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2016 DHS-5408I (PDF)
• Minnesota's Child Maltreatment Report 2015 DHS-5408H (PDF)
• Minnesota Child Welfare Report 2014 DHS-5408G (PDF)
• Minnesota Child Welfare Report 2013 DHS-5408F (PDF)

• AdoptUSKids, a project of the U.S. Children's Bureau to raise awareness about the need for foster and adoptive families and to support states, territories, and tribes in efforts to find families for children in foster care. AdoptUSKids hosts a national photo-listing of waiting children, and the National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment.
• Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private foundation that works to support the needs of vulnerable children and families and includes the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, which focuses on permanency for older youth and adolescent brain development.
• Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (AAICAMA), facilitates administration of ICAMA to support adoptions that cross state lines. See AAICAMA's webpages on guardianship assistance, Medicaid, and adoption assistance.
• Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children helps ensure that all states conform to procedures designed to promote the best interest of children who are sent to or received from one state to another for adoption.
• The Benefits Information Portal (BiP), from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, works to help more than 4,500 Minnesota families grow strong through adoption and kinship care.
• Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare at the University of Minnesota
• Child Welfare Information Gateway, a website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides information and resources on a variety of topics in child welfare, including adoption, kinship care, and permanency
  
• Child Welfare League of America, a coalition of private and public agencies serving vulnerable children and families.
• MN ADOPT, contracted by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to provide services and supports to preadoptive, adoptive, and kinship families, and to support adoption recruitment efforts for Minnesota's waiting children. This includes hosting the State Adoption Exchange.
• North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC), contracted by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to provide services and supports to preadoptive, adoptive, and kinship families. NACAC also provides advocacy, education and training, and leadership development.