Session 1: Plans of Safe Care (POSC) 101: The Landscape of POSC in Minnesota
This session provides an overview of Plans of Safe Care (POSC), including their purpose, federal requirements under CAPTA and CARA, and who they are designed to support—birthing people, infants, and families. Participants will explore how POSC is being implemented nationally and within Minnesota, including current child welfare practices, regional variability, and system-level challenges such as inconsistent policies, funding, and coordination. The session will also clarify key terminology and distinctions (e.g., Family Care Plans vs. POSC, reporting vs. notification) to support shared understanding and improve cross-system communication. Finally, participants will be introduced to the Pregnancy Health and Substance Use Workgroup and its role in advancing more aligned, effective approaches across the state.
By the end of this session, participants will:
1. Describe the purpose, key components, and federal requirements of Plans of Safe Care (POSC) under CAPTA and CARA.
2. Differentiate between commonly confused terms (e.g., POSC vs. Family Care Plans, notification vs. reporting) to support clearer cross-system communication.
3. Explain how POSC is currently implemented in Minnesota, including regional variability, system challenges, and emerging efforts to improve alignment.
Session 2: Operationalizing POSC: Practical Strategies for Hospitals and Community Systems
This session explores practical approaches to addressing substance use in pregnancy, including the importance of screening versus testing and how trauma-informed care can support effective, patient-centered POSC conversations. Participants will hear from clinical experts and hospital teams on what strong POSC workflows look like in practice, along with real-world challenges and solutions to POSC implementation in clinical settings. The session also highlights perspectives from child welfare, public health, and behavioral health to better understand system intersections and gaps. Together, we’ll identify opportunities to improve coordination, reduce duplication for families, and create smoother, more supportive transitions at discharge.
By the end of this session, participants will:
1. Differentiate between substance use screening and testing in pregnancy, including best practice considerations for each.
2. Describe effective, trauma-informed approaches to POSC conversations and Family Care Plan implementation in clinical settings.
3. Identify strategies to strengthen cross-system collaboration to improve care coordination, reduce duplication, and support smoother discharge transitions for families.
Session 3: Dissolving Silos: Cross-System Collaboration in POSC Implementation
This session brings cross-system collaboration to life by exploring what it truly looks like in practice, from formal partnerships to everyday coordination across teams. Participants will review real-world examples such as warm handoffs, shared workflows, and joint planning efforts that support more seamless care for families. We’ll also examine common barriers, including data sharing limitations, staffing constraints, and the importance of building trust across systems. The session will conclude with a focus on actionable next steps, helping participants identify what changes are feasible now and where to aim for longer-term impact.
By the end of this session, participants will:
1. Describe models of cross-system collaboration that support effective POSC implementation in practice.
2. Identify realistic and scalable strategies to strengthen coordination within their own setting.
3. Develop actionable next steps or change ideas to test in their organization, with consideration of common barriers such as data sharing, staffing, and trust-building across systems.
