Definition of active efforts in the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act modification

SF 3920 modifies Minnesota's child welfare laws to redefine "active efforts" as "reasonable efforts" specifically for African American children and children disproportionately represented in foster care. The bill requires social services agencies to collaboratively engage families, consider their cultural and economic needs, and develop safety plans - before seeking court-ordered removal - to keep children with their families and prevent unnecessary out-of-home placements. Key provisions include mandatory family group meetings, culturally appropriate service referrals, and safety plans addressing specific risks (like neglect), while exempting cases involving severe abuse or parental unavailability. This law directly affects African American families and child welfare agencies across Minnesota, aiming to reduce racial disparities in foster care through concrete procedural changes.