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What Minnesota will do to improve child protection services

A photograph of Eric Dean
In this photo taken July 15, 2014, in Glenwood, Minn., a photograph of Eric Dean showing him with a broken arm, rests atop a folder of exhibits presented in court and folders of documents relating to the May 2014 trial of Amanda Peltier in the death of her stepson, Eric Dean.
Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune via AP

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When Gov. Mark Dayton pulled together a task force of Minnesota's best minds around child protection this fall, it came on the heels of a tragedy. Four-year-old Eric Dean was murdered by his stepmother despite repeated warnings to child protective services by people concerned about his welfare.

In December, that task force approved preliminary recommendations to improve the system, which has come under heavy fire for failing to prevent the deaths of vulnerable children.

The group wants to change laws, sharpen rules and improve training. It is expected to deliver final recommendations to Dayton by March, in time for the legislature to act on them.

On The Daily Circuit, we discuss how the system for protecting Minnesota children works—and how it needs to change.