Partners in change
Minnesota Whole Family Systems Initiative is a joint effort of state agencies, counties, Tribes and local organizations, and is guided by representatives from each of these partners.
Other key partners
BUILD Initiative
BUILD Initiative is a national organization that helps state leaders create policies, practices, infrastructure, and connections across agencies and organizations to advance equitable programs, services, and supports for young children, their families, and communities. BUILD Initiative works with state leaders and the Whole Family Systems Initiative grantees to identify and address the institutional and systemic influences related to racial, geographic and economic inequities and to support coordination across the policies, programs, and systems serving young children and families. BUILD created an Equity Leaders Action Framework used in Whole Family Systems Initiative work. BUILD trained Department of Human Services leaders, staff and the seven contracted sites on using this framework. It supports leaders in applying an equity framework to work with communities most impacted by marginalization and disparities to increase opportunity and remove barriers to programs and services. BUILD supports the Whole Family System Initiative by providing technical assistance to state leaders and the seven Whole Family Systems Initiative community grantees, and through project management, cohort facilitation and evaluation.
Future Services Institute
The Future Services Institute’s mission is to advance human services into the 21st century and is committed to attacking institutional racism and other systemic inequality that prevents the current human services system from helping all Minnesotans live respectful lives while working; working across organizations – public and nonprofit – with people who bring their minds and hearts to the work of transforming human services. The Future Services Institute is focused on alleviating the burden, stress, and fatigue in these systems; integrating services across systems, institutions, and agencies; and acting as an incubator, innovator, and influencer to advance Minnesota’s human services sector, with a focus on appropriate and effective service delivery to people in need.
The Future Services Institute of the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota was instrumental in helping to create and launch the 2Gen Policy Network and provided strategic planning and innovation support for the first three years for Whole Family Systems. The institute designed and trained 2-Gen curriculum to state staff from multiple agencies and helped to create the 2-Gen Principles to Practice tool. Future Services Institute also designed and created several videos about the 2-Gen Policy Network and Whole Family Systems Initiative work, some of which are found on our Resources page.
Governor's Children's Cabinet: Minnesota Interagency Leadership Team
The Interagency Leadership Team, convened by the Children’s Cabinet, works to foster long-lasting connections among and the expertise of leaders from core state agencies serving children and families. The group also works to support the goals of the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet to take a results-oriented approach to coordinating, streamlining, and aligning programs and strategies and promoting action and accountability of Minnesota’s efforts to ensure that every Minnesota child, no matter race or ZIP code, is in a family and community of caring adults promote thriving, promoting child well-being, growth and development.
The team ensures that a whole family approach is uplifted in cross-agency teams and strategies of the Children’s Cabinet and provides a network of champions of children and families. Current membership includes the Minnesota Departments of Human Service, Education, Health, Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Budget and Management.