The MNYTD survey gives YOU a path to share your experience and help other youth who have experienced out of home placement. WHAT IS MNYTD? MNYTD stands for the Minnesota Youth in Transition Database. It is Minnesota’s version of a nationwide survey (NYTD) to learn more about the lives of youth who have experienced foster care.
⇑ WHEN DO I TAKE THE SURVEY? All youth in foster care were invited to take the survey with their case manager near their 17th birthday. This happens every three federal fiscal years. All young adults that participated will be contacted again around the time of their 19th birthday to take the survey again and the same group will be asked to take the survey right before they turn 21. The current group of young adults to take the survey again turned 17 between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023.
⇑ WHY DO YOU NEED MY CONTACT INFORMATION? You’ll receive a $100 gift card for completing the survey when you turn 19 and another $100 gift card for participating when you turn 21. You’ll also receive a birthday card from us with a small gift every year as a thank you for keeping in touch! We need your contact information to invite you to participate and to ensure that these gifts reach you!
⇑ WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDY? How often do you get a chance to do a survey, change a whole system and get paid for it? Your knowledge and experience will inform and influence decision makers to make improvements to the foster system. Not bad, huh?
⇑ WHY IS THIS A BIG DEAL? This is the first time in history that the federal government is seeking information about how young adults who have experienced foster care across the country are doing as they grow into adulthood.
⇑ WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO ASK IN THE SURVEY? The survey covers the areas of housing, education, employment, supports, behaviors and health insurance.
⇑ HOW LONG WILL THE SURVEY TAKE? The survey usually takes less than 10 minutes to do. You will be able to take it online through a link on this website or we might interview you over the phone.
⇑ WHAT'S AT STAKE? Minnesota Department of Human Services will lose Chafee funds for Independent Living Services, Education and Training Vouchers and other transition support services for youth in foster care if they do not survey all eligible youth. If Minnesota DHS loses funds it will mean less money to prepare your younger sisters and brothers in care!
⇑ IS IT CONFIDENTIAL? The Improve Group protects all data with the highest security measures. The information you provide is strictly for the study and will not be shared with any other organizations aside from DHS, and will never be used for any marketing purposes. You will never be identified in any way in public reports or publications.
⇑ DO YOU HAVE THIS IN WRITING? The Department of Human Services worked with former foster care youth to develop the notice of privacy practice; it can be found on our website.
⇑ WHO IS THE IMPROVE GROUP? We are an independent research company hired by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to stay connected with you over the course of the study. Learn more about us on our website. We enjoy meeting new people and look forward to working with you!
