Current foster parents

Access resources, support, and important updates to help you on your foster care journey.

Information for emergencies, injuries, and disasters

Floor and escape plan 

The license holder must give the licensing agency a floor plan of the foster home showing emergency evacuation routes. Emergency procedure must include a plan for care of children, evacuation, temporary shelter, and gathering at a meeting place to determine if anyone is missing. The plan must specifically address the needs of children whose behavior increases the risk of having a fire. Your licensor will provide you with this form. 

Incident report 

An incident includes a foster child injury, assaultive behavior of foster child, beyond control behavior, foster child leaves without permission, foster child commits a crime, neighborhood problems, foster child runs away (report immediately). The report must include a description of the incident, extent of injury, who was involved, action taken, timeline of events, etc. This form must be completed and provided to the social worker and licensor within 8 hours of an incident unless otherwise specified. The incident can be documented via email or by requesting a copy of the form from your licensor. 

Contact your foster care licensor and child’s social worker when… 

  • Accident with or without injury occurs in which medical care was needed (i.e. accidents involving vehicles, bikes, sports, etc.) 
  • Illness- serious enough for you to consider if medical care is needed or if medical care is needed including hospitalization  
  • Disasters (man-made or natural) such as flood, tornado, fire, terrorist attack, etc. 
  • Any injury involving a foster child (i.e. fall downstairs, any fall leaving a bruise or mark, rough horse play, etc.) 
  • Unknown whereabouts of foster child including wandering off, runaway, etc. 
  • Foster child has harmed or threatened to harm another child or person 
  • Foster child has gotten into a serious physical altercation 

Emergency and crisis phone numbers

  • After hours emergencies: Evenings, weekends, holidays (507) 535-5625 
  • To report child abuse and neglect- Child Protection Intake (507) 328-6400 
  • Mobile Crisis Response Team (24 hours/7days) 1-844-274-7472 
  • Community Outreach Specialist Team 507-328-6800 
  • Southeast Regional Crisis Center (SERCC) 1-844-274-7472 

Financial information and resources

Foster care provider reimbursement form 

If you're a foster care provider, use this form to get reimbursed for approved care-related costs. It's a quick and easy way to make sure you’re supported for the important work you do.

Mileage reimbursement for medical/therapy appointments 

  • The child must be receiving medical assistance.  
  • Please use the separate voucher entitled “MA Mileage Reimbursement”.  
  • You must include the appointment date, address where the child was picked up and dropped off, the number of miles and the health care provider’s name and address. Then mail the voucher to: 
    Family Support & Assistance, MA Transportation 2117 Campus Drive SE, Suite 100 
    Rochester, MN 55904 or 
  • Fax the voucher to 507-328-7956 or email the voucher to marides@olmstedcounty.gov.  
  • Please bring this form with you to the appointment as the healthcare provider will need to sign/verify each appointment.  

Northstar Care for children rates

Northstar Care for Children rates are based on the Minnesota Assessment of Parenting for Children and Youth (MAPCY) tool. The MAPCY is more comprehensive than previous tools and assesses two areas of care: the child’s needs and what the caretaker is doing to meet those needs. The MAPCY allows for a more consistent and less subjective assessment. It also takes into consideration the child’s strengths and needs, and the extra parenting provided by the caregiver to meet the child’s needs. Foster parents will have an active role in completing the MAPCY tool.

Important information about taxes
Any payment received for providing respite or relief care is taxable. Any payment that is made to hold a bed is considered taxable (emergency shelter care). If payments for these types of items accumulate to over $600 for the year, foster parents will receive a 1099 at year end. Foster parents who only provide foster care and receive payments will not be sent a 1099 at year end.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a health and nutrition program for growing families.

WIC serves families with infants and children up to age five and pregnant and postpartum people.  All families are welcome at WIC, including dads, grandparents, foster parents and working families.

Foster care and adoption support group

Connect. Share. Support.

Join other foster and adoptive parents for a monthly support group designed to provide a welcoming space to share experiences, gain insights, and build community. Whether you're newly licensed or have years of experience, this group offers valuable peer support in a relaxed, understanding environment.

  • When: Fourth Thursday of each month (note: In November and December, the support group will meet on the third Wednesday of the month due to the holidays.)
  • Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.
  • Where: 2117 Campus Dr. Rochester, MN 55904
  • Childcare: Available during the session 

This support group is open to all current and prospective foster and adoptive families.

Register here.

Background Study process

Every person in your household who is age 13 or over must complete a background study. Anyone of the age of 18 will be fingerprinted. 

Fingerprints are a digital scan and sent electronically to MN Department of Human Services. 

MN Department of Human Services reviews FBI records, MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, arrest and investigative information with reasonable cause and maltreatment of minors and vulnerable adults. Based on the information gathered, MN Department of Humans Services determines if there is or is not a disqualification.  

If there is not a disqualification, MN Department of Human Services issues a clearance letter.  

If there is a disqualification, a disqualification letter is issued. The person disqualified can ask for reconsideration. If they do not request reconsideration, Olmsted County recommends a denial of the foster care application. If the individual requests reconsideration, Olmsted County provides a recommendation to MN Department of Human Services and they make a decision to set aside, not set aside or grant variance.  

Out of state travel

If you are traveling out of state with a foster child, please do the following:  

  • Get permission from the child’s social worker.  
  • Inform the child’s social worker and your licensor where you will be and a telephone number you may be reached at.  
  • Have the child’s social worker provide you a letter stating that you have permission from Olmsted County to have the child with you out of state.  
  • Take medical assistance cards with you in the event the foster child needs to be taken to a doctor or hospital.  
  • Have available the social worker’s phone number and the crisis number for emergency contacts.  

Training information 

Note: A total of 12 hours of training per provider per year is required. Please contact your licensor to request a copy of the Annual Training Record and Placement Tracking form.

Sudden unexpected infant death syndrome (SUIDS), MN Stat. 245A.144

  • Frequency: Required every five years if caring for children ages 0–5.
  • Training link: SUIDS training

Abusive head trauma (AHT), MN Stat. 245A.144

  • Frequency: Required every five years if caring for children ages 0–5.
  • Training link: AHT training

Basic education on safe travel, MN Stat. 245A.18

  • Frequency: Required every five years if caring for children under age eight.
  • Note: Your licensor will provide information on how to complete this training.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), MN Stat. 245A.175

Frequency: Required annually. Training must be at least one hour.

Training options:

Children’s mental health issues and treatment, MN Stat. 245A.175

Mandated reporting, MN Stat. 245A.66

  • Frequency: Required annually.
  • Training link: Watch the mandated reporter training
  • Details: Covers how to make a report in Olmsted County, types of abuse, what to include in a report, and child welfare processes.

Mandated reporting – vulnerable adults, MN Stat. 626.557 & 245A.65

Minnesota foster care/adoption education class

  • Frequency: Required once within the first year of licensure.
  • Registration: View upcoming classes on the CH/LSS website.
  • Overview: This training covers trauma, attachment, grief, loss, transracial parenting, and the child welfare system.
  • Note: Completing this course meets all annual training requirements, including FASD and children’s mental health.

Additional training resources (not required)

Other resources 

Statutes and Rules for Foster Care Licensing

Foster Care Provider Grievance Procedure (Code:  5.109)

Purpose

The Foster Care Provider Grievance Procedure is established to resolve areas of disagreement between foster care providers and agency staff involving agency policy, procedure or practice.

Reference 

Department of Human Services Rules

MN Rules, 9543.0060 LICENSING FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS, Subpart 5.  Duties of Agency.  The agency shall:

D.  Establish a grievance mechanism for resolving differences between the agency and the license holder and provide the license holder with a written description of grievance procedures.

Personnel responsible

Agency personnel are responsible for responding to grievances which involve foster care provider disagreements with agency policy, procedure or practice.

The Department of Human Services is responsible for appeals regarding such items as the correction order, denial of licensure, revocation or suspension of a license.

Effective         

08/13/96, Updated 12/99, 3/06, Updated 1/12, Updated 11/15,12/14/2022

Policy

Olmsted County Health, Housing and Human Services must:

  • Have a foster care provider grievance procedure in effect.
  • Furnish license holders with a written description of grievance procedures.
  • Offer initial training on the grievance procedure to providers.

A copy of the “Foster Care Provider Grievance Procedure” is included in the “Olmsted County Foster Parent Handbook” online and is reviewed with providers at initial licensing.

Procedures 

Certain issues are not grieveable:  contractual agreement, placement decisions, civil rights – related or statute/rule requirements.  The County Attorney’s Office will decide if an issue is grieveable according to applicable standards.  Decisions will be available within ten (10) working days.

Individuals have the right to pursue citizen, civil or legal avenues after a decision on the grievance, or after response that an issue is not grieveable.

Before filling a written grievance, the following conciliation steps are expected to be taken:

  1. Foster care provider and case manager or probation officer make direct efforts to resolve disagreement.
  2. Provider contacts the licensor or case manager/probation officer’s supervisor about unresolved client-related or program-specific concerns.  The provider can decide what type of interaction is preferred:  telephone, face-to-face and/or written contact.
  3. Adoption/Foster Care/Child Care Unit Supervisor may participate as needed regarding concerns involving Adult Foster Care or Family Foster Care.

In the event that the disagreement remains unresolved, the provider may file a formal grievance.

A formal grievance procedure begins when a foster care provider files a written grievance requesting resolution of a disagreement between themselves and the agency:

  1. Provider files a written grievance, requesting resolution of a disagreement between themselves and the agency.
  2. Written requests should:
    - Include a statement of the issues or concerns and the action desired,
    - State the type of interaction preferred: telephone, face-to-face and/or written contact,
    - Be directed to the Associate Director of Social Services or designee, and
    - Copied to the Adoption/Foster Care/Child Care Unit Supervisor and placed in the provider’s case file.
  3. Within ten (10) working days of receipt of the request, the Associate Director of Social Services will convene a meeting to address the grievance, unless another form of contacts is preferred by the provider, i.e., telephone or written response.
  4. Attendance at the meeting may include: the provider, a provider advocate, the case manager or probation officer, the case manager’s or probation officer’s supervisor, the provider’s licensor, and the Adoption/Foster Care/Child Care Unit Supervisor.
  5. The client and/or legal guardian must provide a written release for his/her data to be discussed/shared in this (and any subsequent) meeting.

Outcomes

  1. The grievance is resolved.  The resolution is signed by the provider and an agency representative.
  2. The grievance is not resolved.  The process ends.
Approved by Date Author  Date
Human Services Committee 07/09/96
08/13/96

Belinda J. Krenik, Community Services Supervisor

Foster/Day Care Unit		  
Olmsted County Board 08/13/96

With assistance/consideration by:

Adult Foster Care Committee – Work Group

Adult Foster Care Committee

Community Services Supervisors: Social Services

Corrections – Adult & Juvenile Divisions

Family Foster Care Committee – AD HOC

Leadership Team

County Attorney’s Office

Adult Foster Care Committee by special request

06/06/96

06/13/96

06/17/96
 

6/26/96


06/24/96



06/24/96

07/01/96,  07/17/96

07/11/96

Leadership

12/13/99

Dan Judd

Adult Foster Care Advisory Committee

Child Foster Care Advisory Committee

County Attorney’s Office: Geoff Hjerleid and/or Bob McIntosh

Heather Johnson

11/18/99

12/17/99


12/7/99

3/06
Senior Management 2/6/12

Michelle Freiderich, Sr. Social Worker,

Child Foster Care

Rich Hacker, Supervisor, Adoption/

Foster Care/Child Care

Jennifer Bagne-Walsh, Supervisor,

Adult Foster Care

Tiffany Kacir

1/25/12

11/05/15


12/14/22