Services

In addition to economic support and health care, DHS provides many services to help children and families pursue the opportunity to reach their highest potential.

Adoption and kinship

DCYF ensures that children placed for adoption within Minnesota or across state lines benefit from all legal protections.

Adolecent services

DCYF works with others to provide programs for youth at risk, including those who are or were in out-of-home care or minor parents.

Child care

DCYF works with others to provide programs for youth at risk, including those who are or were in out-of-home care or minor parents.

Child protection

The child protection system responds to situations of alleged maltreatment and helps support families to safely care for their children.

Child support

Minnesota’s child support program benefits children by enforcing parental responsibility for their support.

Foster care

Foster parents provide a bridge with birth parents to enable children to return safely home or to a new adoptive or permanent family.

Deaf and hard of hearing

DHS serves people who are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened or deafblind as well as their families, providers, employers and businesses.

Direct care and treatment

This health care system includes psychiatric hospitals and other inpatient mental health treatment facilities; inpatient substance abuse treatment facilities; dental clinics, group homes, vocational sites and sex offender treatment facilities. This department, formerly a part of the Department of Human Services, was created as a separate state agency in 2025.

Refugee programs

This program coordinates services to assist refugees in making the transition to life in the United States.

Social Security Advocacy Services

Social Security advocates can help people with disabilities apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI).