Beltrami County Social Services

Foster Care Licensing

Child foster care homes are utilized when children cannot live with their own families. Children typically enter foster care due to neglect, abuse, a family crisis or the child's behaviors in the home. Foster parents provide a safe, consistent, nurturing and stable living environment for these children until they can be safely returned to their families. Additional foster homes are always needed, particularly homes that can effectively parent teenagers or have the ability to take in and parent sibling groups.

A Foster Parent's Role

Foster parents provide a temporary home for children when they cannot remain in their own home. Foster parents provide care to children until the parents can resume this responsibility or until a permanent plan is made with relative or adoptive parents. Foster parents need to be caring and stable as they will be helping children through a difficult time in their lives. Foster parents must be able to provide for their own family's financial needs, be good listeners, flexible, have a good sense of humor and work well with others in a team effort. Foster parents receive a financial reimbursement to care for the needs of children.

More Information

We hope the information below will assist you in determining your next steps in becoming a foster parent.

If you reside with another adult who will be in a caregiving role, both of you will be considered applicants and shall be involved in all aspects of the licensing processes.

Foster parents:

Provide the daily basics: food, clothing, shelter, as well as the love, stability, guidance and structure that all children need.
Are people who are genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of children and parents.
Are people who believe that children are worthy of their best efforts every day.
Are supportive of reunification with the child's family.
Do all these things knowing that the child(ren) may only be with them for a short time.
Are acutely aware of the crisis, stresses, and social problems resulting from the abuse and neglect of children.
May have children living at home, have raised their own children to adulthood, or are without children.
Decide if a placement is appropriate for their family.

Prospective foster parents may be married or single and must:

Live in Beltrami County
Be at least 21 years old, financially stable, and responsible adults
Complete and pass an Adam Walsh Background check on all household members who are 13 years or older
Comply with home safety requirements
- Home Safety Checklist
Participate in a home-study that includes interviews with all household members
Participate in six hours of foster care orientation
Complete all necessary licensing paperwork
Attend 12 hours of ongoing training annually to learn more about related issues
Be free of chemical use problems for at least the past two years.

Foster care services in Beltrami County come in several forms to address the specific needs of children and the foster parents who care for them.

Family Foster Care
Treated as family members, these children and teens receive full-time, short- or long-term care.
Kinship Foster Care
Relatives, family friends, and those with a significant relationship may be licensed to provide care to specific children in foster care.
Respite Care
Respite care provides a break for birth parents or foster parents from caring for children on a scheduled basis.
Foster to Adopt
Foster parents assist and support reunification with the child's birth family while committing to provide a permanent home for the child if the child cannot return to the parents or other appropriate family.

Rules and Statutes pertinent to each of the Licensing categories
We suggest that you visit the State of Minnesota Revisor's website using the links below to review and/or print each section applicable to your program license.

Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 245A (Human Services Licensing)

Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 245C (Human Services Background Studies)

Minnesota Rules, parts 2690.3000 to 2960.3340 (Licensure & Certification)

To begin the child foster care licensing process, complete the following documents and submit to the Beltrami County Social Services Foster Care Program office.

A licensor will be notified and will reach out to schedule a time to visit with you.

Documents to get started:

1. Minnesota Adoption and Foster Care Application

2. Individual Fact Sheet (to be completed by all household members age 18 and up )

3. Background Data Collection Form (to be completed for all household members age13 and up)

For more information, please review the Foster Care Orientation PowerPoint.

Child Foster Care
616 America Ave NW
Bemidji, MN 56601

Phone: 218-333-8245
Email

Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Mon - Fri