Child welfare predictive analytics systems
It is a clone of this request.
| Submitted | April 30, 2021 |
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Communications
From: Todd Feathers
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, I hereby request the following records:
1) Contracts with any company, nonprofit, or other entity that currently provides software to the department that includes predictive analytics models for child welfare (i.e., models designed to identify home placement risk, abuse risk, human trafficking risk, etc.). This should include contracts for CCWIS or comparable systems that include predictive models as well as project descriptions for any models created in-house.
2) Data dictionaries for all child welfare predictive models used by the department, including those provided by outside entities as well as in-house models. Data dictionaries are documents commonly created for predictive models and databases. They describe the categories of data that are inputs (age, gender, etc.) and outputs (risk level, etc.) of predictive models. They are equivalent to headers on a spreadsheet, and do not include actual data.
3) A list of all memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and/or data sharing agreements with state or local agencies for the provision of data that is incorporated into the department's child welfare predictive models. Should the department not maintain a list of these MOUs, I will accept copies of the MOUs themselves.
4) Any differential impact assessments, validation studies, or comparable documents that describe the accuracy of child welfare predictive models used by the department. This should include any documents that describe common measures of predictive accuracy, such as area under the curve (AUC).
5) All department policies, employee manuals, and guidelines describing how employees can and/or should use child welfare predictive models.
6) All governance board, committee, or outside expert reviews assessing the efficacy of the department's proposed or current child welfare predictive models.
Should you have questions regarding any aspect of this request, please don't hesitate to contact me.
I ask that all fees be waived as I am a journalist and intend to use the requested records to publish articles in the public interest. In the event you choose to impose fees, I request a detailed breakdown of the fees, including the hourly wage of each employ involved and an explanation justifying the employee hours required to fulfill the request.
Should you choose to reject this request or redact portions of it, I ask that you provide a detailed breakdown of the statutory exemptions and associated case law underlying your decision to withhold each/any portions from public review.
I would prefer the request be filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you very much for your help, and I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days.
Sincerely,
Todd Feathers
From: Department of Human Services
Todd:
I am following up on your data request. I will be in touch if I have additional questions. Please note the information about data requests on our website at:
https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/about-dhs/data-requests/
Note that you will receive your data within a "reasonable period of time." If you requested data about yourself, then we would respond within 10 business days of receiving your request.
Thank you,
Katie Bauer
Public Information Officer | Office of Commissioner Jodi Harpstead
Minnesota Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64998
St. Paul, MN 55164-0998
O: 651-431-2911
C: 651-276-3055
F: 651-431-7443
mn.gov/dhs<http://mn.gov/dhs/>
[Minnesota Department of Human Services Logo]
[Facebook logo]<https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaDHS>[LinkedIn logo]<https://www.linkedin.com/company/minnesota-department-of-human-services>[Twitter logo]<https://twitter.com/minnesotadhs>[YouTube logo]<https://www.youtube.com/user/MinnesotaDHS>[GovDelivery logo]<http://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/publications-forms-resources/email-subscriptions/>
From: Department of Human Services
Todd:
I need to clarify with you if you are looking for information about our Structured Decision Making (SDM) tools or something else. We do use the SDM tools to assess safety and risk during the assessment/investigation phase of a child maltreatment report. These tools are not meant to predict an event or recurrence, but are meant to assess the likelihood of a future incident if the agency does not intervene.
Is that what you are looking for?
I have cc'd by colleague Sarah Berg, who is filling in for me the next two weeks while I am out of the office (May 10 to 21). She can follow up on your response.
Katie Bauer
Public Information Officer | Office of Commissioner Jodi Harpstead
Minnesota Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64998
St. Paul, MN 55164-0998
O: 651-431-2911
C: 651-276-3055
F: 651-431-7443
mn.gov/dhs<http://mn.gov/dhs/>
[Minnesota Department of Human Services Logo]
[Facebook logo]<https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaDHS>[LinkedIn logo]<https://www.linkedin.com/company/minnesota-department-of-human-services>[Twitter logo]<https://twitter.com/minnesotadhs>[YouTube logo]<https://www.youtube.com/user/MinnesotaDHS>[GovDelivery logo]<http://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/publications-forms-resources/email-subscriptions/>
From: Todd Feathers
Hello Katie and Sarah,
Yes, that's what I'm looking for. Thanks very much for reaching out for clarification!
Todd
From: Department of Human Services
Thanks, Todd. We'll let you know if we need any further clarification.
Best,
Sarah Berg
Media Relations Manager
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Office: 651-431-4901
Cell: 651-387-4976
sarah.berg@state.mn.us<mailto:sarah.berg@state.mn.us>
Pronouns: she/her/hers
-
~WRD000
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Minnesota Government Data Practices Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 30, 2021. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Human Services
Confirming receipt of your email and letting you know that we are continuing to follow up on your request. I will be in touch when I have information for you.
Thank you,
Katie Bauer
Public Information Officer | Office of Commissioner Jodi Harpstead
Minnesota Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64998
St. Paul, MN 55164-0998
O: 651-431-2911
C: 651-276-3055
F: 651-431-7443
mn.gov/dhs<http://mn.gov/dhs/>
[Minnesota Department of Human Services Logo]
[Facebook logo]<https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaDHS>[LinkedIn logo]<https://www.linkedin.com/company/minnesota-department-of-human-services>[Twitter logo]<https://twitter.com/minnesotadhs>[YouTube logo]<https://www.youtube.com/user/MinnesotaDHS>[GovDelivery logo]<http://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/publications-forms-resources/email-subscriptions/>
From: Department of Human Services
Todd:
I am attaching three documents in response to your data request. Please confirm receipt of this information.
Thank you,
Katie Bauer
Public Information Officer | Office of Commissioner Jodi Harpstead
Minnesota Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64998
St. Paul, MN 55164-0998
O: 651-431-2911
C: 651-276-3055
F: 651-431-7443
mn.gov/dhs<http://mn.gov/dhs/>
[Minnesota Department of Human Services Logo]
[Facebook logo]<https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaDHS>[LinkedIn logo]<https://www.linkedin.com/company/minnesota-department-of-human-services>[Twitter logo]<https://twitter.com/minnesotadhs>[YouTube logo]<https://www.youtube.com/user/MinnesotaDHS>[GovDelivery logo]<http://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/publications-forms-resources/email-subscriptions/>
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