MAAFPCWDA
MAAFPCWDA Training Available
The Training Academy is currently hosting training for the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA), titled Addressing Disparities and Disproportionality: MAAFPCWDA (CWTA X224). Visit our Course Catalog to view course availability.
Addressing Disparity and Disproportionality: MAAFPCWDA Training Update
This course, which launched in June 2026, is a key part of the MAAFPCWDA legislative requirement for child protection workers in Minnesota. Our Evaluation and Certification Team has been monitoring learner feedback, and a decision has been made to modify the training to address several key issues. Learn more in this article.
Resources
- MAAFPCWDA Implementation Update - Subscribe to this DCYF mailing list to stay up-to-date
- Minnesota African American Family Preservation Child Welfare Disproportionality Act page located on DCYF website
Intercultural Exchange Newsletter
Minnesota State Statute 260.69 under the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act requires cultural competency training for all individuals working with African American and disproportionately represented children in the child welfare system. The Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy will be providing the Intercultural Exchange, a monthly curated selection of resources and trainings, that can be utilized to satisfy this training requirement while the statewide training is being developed.
- June 2026
- April 2026
- February 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- June 2025
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Previous Updates
Understanding the MAAFPCWDA Requirement
With regard to the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA), there has been some confusion about the training requirement. This June, the Training Academy will launch a new training called Addressing Disparities and Disproportionality: MAAFPCWDA (CWTA X224) that will be required of all Minnesota agency child protection workers and supervisors.
Vendor Selected to Develop New MAAFPCWDA Curriculum
In 2024, the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA) was passed. An important part of this legislation includes effective workforce training. To that end, the Training Academy brought together the MAAFPCWDA Vendor Selection Committee to name a curriculum developer through a competitive proposal process. After careful deliberation of eleven proposals, Public Knowledge from Lakewood New Jersey was selected to design and build the training curriculum for a course to be called Addressing Disparities and Disproportionality: MAAFPCWDA (CWTA X224). Work began in November 2025 and training is anticipated to begin in June 2026.
MAAFPCWDA Training Needs Assessment
This Training Needs Assessment examines the knowledge, skills, and conditions needed to support culturally responsive child welfare practice under the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA). Drawing on a mixed-methods approach — including an envisioning session, focus groups, interviews, and surveys — the report identifies key themes such as the need for historical grounding, real-time bias interruption, stronger family engagement, and supervisor support.
MAAFPCWDA Blog Posts
The Training Academy has developed and shared a number of stories about the MAAFPCWDA implementation:
- Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA): Two Years Later. Revisiting What It Is, Why It Matters, and What’s Next
- Celebrating Black History Month: Honoring Progress and Strengthening Commitments (February 2025)
- Supporting the Workforce Through Change: Insights from Dr. Joan Blakey on the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (December 2024)
- Active Efforts/MAAFPACWDA Training (November 2024)
- Behind the Act: Insights from Devon Gilchrist Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (November 2024)
- A Need for Community Understanding: African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (October 2024)
- Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act: Implementation and Policy (August 2024)
- Juneteenth: Celebrating Freedom and Recognizing the Passage of the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (June 2024)