The Minnesota Office of Ombudsperson for AMERICAN INDIAN Families is a new independent state agency as of 2021. It is the first independent state agency of its kind in The Nation. The Ombudsperson operates independently, but in collaboration with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, who serves the American Indian Communities. The Ombudsperson works to resolve complaints from families who have been negatively impacted by child welfare social service agencies, to include out-of-home placement of American Indian children, as well as public education and housing issues as they relate to child protection cases.