My Foster File

You can take time before deciding to read your records, but there is some urgency to request them. In Minnesota, foster care records are not kept permanently if your parents’ rights were never ended (terminated). Your file will be destroyed 10 years after you leave foster care. If you want to make sure you can access your records in the future, it’s best to request them now and save them in a box for yourself until you’re emotionally ready to look at them.

Because each county and tribe in MN handles foster care record requests on their own, the process can look very different depending on where you lived. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to get your records. You might get them by mail or by email. If you don’t hear anything within 90 days, follow up in writing to make sure they received your request.

The State (DCYF) will direct you back to the counties as Minnesota is a county‑run, state‑administered system, and each county and tribe keeps its own records. You’ll need to contact every Minnesota county or tribal area where your parents lived, because each one may hold a piece of your history.

However, if you need extra help, after you’ve connected with the county or tribe, you can also reach out to DCYF for support. https://dcyf.mn.gov/about-us/data-requests

It’s true, the less information you have, the harder it can be to track things down, and the more you’ll need to play detective. But you can still request records using whatever details you do know. Your current name, the schools you went to, doctors or clinics you used, and places you lived are great starting points. Request as many records as you can, going as far back as possible, and piece things together as you get information, working backward in time. I would advice trying to request your foster care file with the information you know today, and then again with the new information you know in 6 months if you are unsuccessful.

Hennepin and Ramsey counties let you request your records online. Other counties (as far as we know) still require a written request. You can call, but calling doesn’t give you a paper trail if they don’t respond, and you can’t send your ID that way. That’s why mailing a written request is the safest option. Find the mailing address for the county office: https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/about-dhs/contact-us/county-and-tribal-nation-offices/.

If you need an ID, contact the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to get one or request a duplicate if yours is lost. Homeless youth under 24 years old can get a free standard identification (ID) card if they meet certain requirements, learn more.