“Ensuring excellent, developmentally informed parenting in the child welfare system. ”
History of Quality Parenting Initiative
The Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI), a strategy of the Youth Law Center, is an approach to strengthening foster care. QPI is built on the belief that excellent parenting with strong, positive relationships is the best intervention we can offer children to enable them to heal as they grow up to become adults. Launched in 2008 in Florida, QPI has expanded to more than 80 jurisdictions in 10 states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas. Participating child welfare systems commit to fully supporting excellent parenting by putting first the needs of the child for strong relationships.
QPI in Minnesota: Journey towards partnership in the foster care system.
Interested in creating positive change within the foster care system in Minnesota, QPI - MN was launched in October 2017. Unique to Minnesota’s efforts with QPI is its origin was driven largely by private foster care agencies of AspireMN, joining together with several counties and social service agencies rather than being directed by government or regulations. In 2023, Minnesota passed the Quality Parenting Initiative Grant Program in law to provide training and technical assistance to county and Tribal agencies, community-based agencies, and other stakeholders.
QPI-MN Values
CHILDREN AND YOUTH DEVELOP AND GROW THROUGH LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
FOSTER PARENTS ARE RESPECTED PARTNERS WHO ADVOCATE AND COLLABORATE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE CHILD/YOUTH AND THEIR BIRTH FAMILY AND RELATIVES.
COMMUNITIES AND SYSTEM PARTNERS COLLABORATE AND DRIVE BEST PRACTICE AND BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
BIRTH FAMILIES, RELATIVES AND FOSTER PARENTS CONNECT AND CREATE MUTUALLY HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
