Minnesota’s Child Protection System Criticized

ST. PAUL (AP) — A new state task force has started looking at Minnesota's child protection system.

Gov. Mark Dayton created the task force following the Star Tribune's reporting on problems with the system.

Some task force members questioned how a legislative auditor report in 2012 could say that child protection agencies make decisions in a "reasonable and deliberative manner" — despite those same agencies not responding to about two-thirds of the reports they receive.

That report has been cited by leaders of child protection agencies and officials at the Department of Human Services to show that Minnesota's screening process is effective.

Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles told the task force the report did not examine the effectiveness of the screening decisions, but whether the process was adequately administered.