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Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes legislative reforms, increased funding for child protection, and improved policies and practices in Minnesota child protection and foster care.
Would you like to make a difference in the lives vulnerable Minnesota children?
You can! It is amazing the difference that one person can make!
We invite you to join us at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on Monday April 7th!
Every day, teachers, doctors and concerned citizens call child protection, expressing concerns about what they’ve observed or heard from a child.
Over half of these calls are immediately screened out because they don’t meet the statutory definition of child maltreatment. As a result, no further action is taken. Children wait for help. Often, help comes too late.
On April 7, we have a chance to talk with legislators about opportunities for meaningful change. We’re strongly urging them to pass the following bills:
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Priority 1
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Priority 2
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Priority 3
We invite concerned citizens like you to join us at the Capitol on April 7 from 10 a.m. 1 p.m. Learn more about key bills impacting child safety. Then meet with your senator or representative -- or both -- to make them aware of the impact of these bills. If you can’t make it in person, we can schedule a virtual meeting that fits into your schedule. Your time commitment is minimal yet profoundly impactful.
If you’ve never met with your legislator, that’s okay. You don’t need to have a background in social services or medicine; you just need to have a heart for at-risk children. We’ll provide all the training and information you need for a 10-15 minute meeting.
Please plan to join us on April 7 either in person or virtually!
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Questions about volunteering with Safe Passage for Children? Or can't make it on April 7th but still want to advocate for children with us? Just send us an email to contactus@safepassageforchildren.org and we will help you schedule alternative times to meet with your legislators.
Your voice matters
Last year Minnesota children were safer and received more services due in large part to the loyal donors and passionate volunteers of Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. 13,600 more children annually are getting help from county child protection agencies due to changes our passionate volunteers helped make in state law.
In addition, counties and the state increased their budgets for child protection and foster care by over $200 million since 2015. Counties also added nearly 500 caseworkers – a 60% increase. But many challenges remain for vulnerable, neglected, and abused children in Minnesota, this year and into the future, and you are their voice at the Capitol!
Our mission is to ensure that Minnesota has a child welfare system in which children are safe and reach their full potential.
Our goal is a Minnesota child protection and foster care system in that continuously improves the lives of children, as demonstrated by objective, measurable outcomes. If the system is working well, children’s outcomes will improve over time.
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Registration Page for Safe Passage for Children Day at the Capitol
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We can't wait to see you!
Thank you for registering to join us at Safe Passage for Children Day at the Capitol!
A registration receipt will be arriving now in your email inbox.
Your next steps:
1.) Please add contactus@safepassageforchildren.org to your trusted contacts.
2.) Thank you and we will talk with you soon!
Event Description
Safe Passage for Children Day at the Capitol
Minnesota State Capitol Building
75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
St Paul, MN 55155
Date: Monday, April 7th, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Every day, teachers, doctors and concerned citizens call child protection, expressing concerns about what they’ve observed or heard from a child.
Over half of these calls are immediately screened out because they don’t meet the statutory definition of child maltreatment. Most are correctly screened out, but some are not. As a result, some children wait for help, and sometimes help comes too late.
On April 7, we have a chance to talk with legislators about opportunities for meaningful change.
As we gear up for the 2025 legislative session, here’s a brief overview of our top concerns – and where we’re planning to focus some of our efforts.
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Mandated reporter training/education
Mandated reporters make the vast majority of reports of maltreatment to local agencies. These people work in health care, law enforcement, mental health, social services, education and childcare. The current DHS-sponsored training spends far too much time encouraging mandated reporters to “PASS” before making a report. Mere seconds are spent on recognizing signs of physical abuse. We’re advocating for a complete overhaul of the training. -
Child fatalities and near fatalities reporting
Information about child injuries and fatalities is not easily accessible. Most of the information we compiled for our own fatality reports came from the media. Child deaths are buried into the state’s annual maltreatment reports with few details about the circumstances surrounding their deaths. A new law is set to go into effect in late 2026, requiring the state to publish an annual summary of child fatalities. However, we would like to see more information about individual cases and will continue to advocate for greater transparency. -
Allocation of state dollars toward child protection
In recent years, millions in state and federal funding have been left on the table. This money could have been put toward prevention services as well as case management. Last year a bill was introduced to conduct a fiscal analysis of the child welfare system in Minnesota, including an analysis of available funding sources for federal, state, county and tribal systems. However, it didn’t pass. We will be urging legislators to revisit this bill in 2025.
Learn more about key bills impacting child safety. Then meet with your senator or representative — or both — to make them aware of the impact of these bills. If you can’t make it in person, we can schedule a virtual meeting that fits into your schedule. Your time commitment is minimal yet profoundly impactful.
If you’ve never met with your legislator, that’s okay. You don’t need to have a background in social services or medicine; you just need to have a heart for at-risk children. We’ll provide all the training and information you need for a 10-15 minute meeting.
Please plan to join us on April 7 either in person or virtually!
Event Information
Maps
State Capitol Complex and Visitor Parking Map (PDF) – Full map of all buildings and parking and transportation options, including disability parking spaces.
State Capitol Building Floor Map (PDF) – Map of the Capitol building including restrooms, elevators, and water fountains.
Parking Options
- FREE PARKING is available in the Sears parking lot at 425 Rice St, St. Paul, MN 55103
- Ramp F – enter off Rice Street
- Lot Q – northeast corner of Cedar St and Sherburne Ave, enter from Sherburne Ave
- Street Parking
Visit the Department of Admin’s Public Parking page for information about street parking, disability parking, bicycle racks, EV charging stations, and more.
Public transportation
Several Metro Transit bus stops and Green Line light rail stops will bring you within a block of the Capitol Complex.
Accessible Parking & Drop-off
20 disability parking spots are located in the Senate Office Building for no cost. Coming from Rice Street on Sherburne Ave., take a right onto Capitol Blvd. and then another right into the parking garage. The door will automatically open when you approach it. Take the elevator to access the tunnel system and follow signs to the capitol.
Use the bus cut-out on Cedar Ave. for drop-off. Drop off and pick up on Cedar Street (east of Capitol) and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The ground floor entrance (under front steps) is wheelchair accessible.
Accessibility Statement
The State Capitol welcomes all visitors. We recognize the diverse needs of our audience and strive to offer accessible programming to enable all visitors to explore this historic site.
However, accessibility for guests with limited mobility can be challenging at our historic sites due to historic and natural features. With advance notice, we will make every effort to respond to access needs.
Our goal is to provide as much information as possible to guests before their visit to any of our sites and museums.
If you have additional questions about accessibility or other needs, please contact the Minnesota State Capitol at 651-259-3292 or statecapitol@mnhs.org.
Capitol Visits
Interested in touring the Capitol that day? There are free guided tours starting at the top of the hour and lasting about 45 minutes. You will learn more about the building’s history, art and architecture. Visit the information desk on the first floor.
Media Release:
By registering for this event, I hereby authorize Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota permission to use the voice, name and/or photographic likenesses of myself or the minor child/children I’ve registered for any and all media, worldwide in perpetuity such as but not limited to use in stories, photographs and video, including the editing, reproduction or reproduction of parts thereof for publication of said stories, photographs and film, in social media, online video, television, website and printed promotional materials distributed or published for or on behalf of Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. I waive any right to inspect and approve the finished product or copy that may be used or the use to which it may be applied. I waive all claims for any compensation or damages for myself or the minor child/children for such use of said stories, photographs and video explicitly. I expressly agree that this Release is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the State of Minnesota and that this Release shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota. I agree that in the event that any clause or provision of this Release is deemed invalid, the enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected.
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