[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6246999,"mediaKeyId","3213529-623b3adcca5b8ffef69032bdadcf9183","parentId",3213529,"title","Pine County HHS reports decline in out-of-home placement costs but warns of costly new state active-efforts law","audioSeconds",1872,"startMs",1486000,"endMs",3358000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213529-623b3adcca5b8ffef69032bdadcf9183&start=1486&end=3358","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213529-623b3adcca5b8ffef69032bdadcf9183/thumbnail_1486000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6246999/Pine-County/Minnesota/Pine-County-HHS-reports-decline-in-out-of-home-placement-costs-but-warns-of-costly-new-state-active-efforts-law","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246999-eb2cae1b4c7702af4c412cd25de6a900/orig.mp4?Expires=1775436120&Signature=FMyhX6oiffqpDtWvhJoU5QvhNsFtR5U9STYVwqXCE~pmt5NatRcPhPo7QmZlD60MFrCY9Xgl~x6i0buhfVXOa0VJbDc6GPzQh8~0JZ8h4T-6n8VZetBPnzRklSMmUpJq0pCRGCFIkXkFaFM7BpuzgIw8gmtDLAApxSsspFAp~PMuY7GcnDu8LCNn2S4CfIVUkGxmoWGt8t8SYmsTLy4nUff-N0DKYvjgbY9eN1nZR8AiZKr4lLCJ8~n-UrcgJr7g1WhxSU2FvbLwZfHxEMFIPAaPyu7UhIPf0W~RjR5mdjpPP3c2Fwya6fJIbrSpL4ymiETeIJHzzz2XZpHzW9tbdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pine County, MN","date","2025-05-07T17:07:06.44Z","article","Becky Fossum, director of Pine County Health and Human Services, told the board on May 20 that the county budgeted just over $1.3 million for out-of-home placement expenses in 2024 but expended under $1 million, leaving the department roughly $500,000 under budget across child protection, probation and children’s mental health placements.

“This is something that's really exciting for Pine County,” Fossum said, citing downward trends in out-of-home placement spending and what she described as stronger prevention and community-based services.

Fossum walked commissioners through trends: child-protection placements and probation placements generally trended down since 2019 (with a 2022 uptick), and children's mental-health placements remain the program most likely to produce “budget busters” because residential treatment can exceed $300 per day.

Fossum also emphasized tenure and staffing: a 2023 Minnesota DHS study, she said, reported an average child-protection worker tenure of 2½ years statewide, while Pine County’s average tenure is about eight years. “That’s a really sad statistic,” she said of the statewide number, and called Pine County’s staffing stability a strength for casework continuity.

The meeting centered on a recent state law the presentation called the African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (referred to in the meeting as MAPPA). Fossum said the law’s requirements — particularly an “active efforts” standard and extensive case-review and reporting obligations — will create significant, unfunded work for county social-services agencies when the law fully rolls out for counties like Pine on Jan. 1, 2027.

Active efforts, she said, “means a rigorous and concerted level of effort that we have to do as a health and human services agency throughout the life of a case.” Fossum gave local examples of what active efforts can require: arranging long-distance transportation for a parent (a case she said cost roughly $1,000), providing six months of rental assistance in one case and covering hotel and food costs for supervised visits.

“Active efforts is a very high bar. And truthfully, it's an expensive bar,” Fossum said.

She told commissioners that the statute’s annual, commissioner-driven definitions of “disproportionately represented children” make planning difficult because the state commissioner could alter which groups are covered each year. Fossum also warned that Pine County’s case-management system, SSIS, cannot easily produce the detailed data the law requires; the first reporting will begin in November 2028 with a first case-review report due in 2029, and Fossum said the county will likely need to hire a data specialist to comply.

Fossum presented local data she had pulled in mid-April: of approximately 33 children in out-of-home placements at that time, 14 were Native American and 12 of those 14 had cases in tribal court. She noted that tribal cases often remain open longer and are frequently led by tribal social services rather than county social services, and that tribal placements can affect Pine County’s counts because county finances remain responsible under the state–tribal funding arrangement.

Fossum advised the board to expect possible cost shifts from the state — including proposals affecting home- and community-based services and behavioral health — and said she had been asked to present the department’s budget earlier than usual so the board could consider possible impacts. “I would really encourage each of you to reach out to your legislators,” she said.

Board members asked clarifying questions about how active efforts differ from reasonable efforts and how tribal cases influence local data. Commissioners also expressed concern about staffing pressures and the difficulty of meeting rising documentation and reporting requirements.

No formal board action was taken at the meeting; Fossum said next steps include budget planning in 2026 and continued coordination with state and tribal partners about implementation and definitions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pine County Board Meeting - May 6th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Becky Fossum, Pine County Health and Human Services director, told the board on May 20 that the county spent under $1 million on out-of-home placements in 2024—about $500,000 under the budgeted amount—but warned a new state law requiring “active efforts” for disproportionately represented children will create significant unfunded costs beginning in 2027.","taxTitle","Pine County, Minnesota","taxId",51038,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6247004,"Midwest Medical Examiner reports 262 deaths in Pine County; meth, fentanyl present in fatal overdoses",636,824000,1460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213529-623b3adcca5b8ffef69032bdadcf9183&start=824&end=1460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213529-623b3adcca5b8ffef69032bdadcf9183/thumbnail_824000.jpg","/articles/6247004/Pine-County/Minnesota/Midwest-Medical-Examiner-reports-262-deaths-in-Pine-County-meth-fentanyl-present-in-fatal-overdoses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247004-dfa869ace59eaebe30542b97cfaa716b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775436120&Signature=PgJ13Cjj2aHhFf4RTUZOO0DnaTt4gD3DdTOByVeZYIVMCdCsM4blK6m8FlXEI2nHdfpYqxHoYyNoBb7GJP3FyDWaezgpjU-5dxZTPpl3~NZxP2rucpn5UNoa-fHCuarF-VXTWa1elV-ueD586ZsSD4Os8MRY~I4XESIvPeue8~7AKJHNauM5ggZuXLggJgVgfGgNKPV1EI-SwPkGUcubbcEkUesJqsTOIxf8PWyS1nn9mvLVCCiUHx9USEHWBoxFoxnMRFsJf9eozr8-1r4SBxZ0JRhTsGjvaaTCLfQmVeDzFmLDhfvscNQorRBtJ8OmnyyUC4gvLXLRa4PRqcLx2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shane Sheets, director of the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office, told the Pine County Board on May 20 that the office received roughly 262 death reports from the county in 2024 and that about 95 percent of county deaths are reported to the medical examiner’s office.

“We have a total of cases reported to us were 262 deaths in Pine County,” Sheets said. He told the board the county recorded one homicide, 29 accidents (including 12 blunt-force injury deaths), 13 drug-overdose fatalities, seven suicides and two exposure deaths.

The report highlighted the drug profile for those overdoses. “For methamphetamine present, there was 12. So methamphetamine and fentanyl are what we're seeing for Pine County,” Sheets said, and added the office has begun importing fatal-overdose data into OD Maps in near real time after completing forensic autopsies.

The medical examiner framed the trends in year-to-year context: drug-overdose totals for 2024 matched 2023, statewide fatal overdoses are starting to decline, and suicide counts in Pine County rose by one from 2023 (from six to seven). Sheets noted typical suicide demographics and that blunt-force injuries include motor-vehicle crashes and falls.

Sheets also described non-forensic services the office provides, including brain removals for Alzheimer’s research with university brain banks and culturally specific “hardware removals” requested by some Hmong families so decedents can be buried without metal hardware, which he said the office performs to support families' cultural practices.

He invited county officials to tour the facility and said the office expects “no rate increase for next year.” The director warned that new substances continue to appear in drug markets and said the office will test for them when they show up locally. “You’re seeing xylazine and a lot of veterinarian tranquilizers,” Sheets said; “we will be testing for that once it comes.”

The board's discussion touched briefly on rural-versus-metro comparisons. Sheets said overdose rates measured per 100,000 residents make Pine County roughly comparable to similarly sized rural counties, while noting that in rural areas methamphetamine remains a persistent challenge.

Sheets left contact information for follow-up and said the office serves 37 Minnesota counties and some Wisconsin referrals. He stressed the office is updating annual reports and the new case-management system will allow more routine, customizable data reporting for counties and public-health partners.

Pine County officials did not take any formal action at the meeting based on the report.","Shane Sheets, director of the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office, told the Pine County Board the office logged roughly 262 reported deaths in the county in 2024, with 13 fatal drug overdoses and 12 blunt-force accidental deaths; methamphetamine and fentanyl were the most commonly detected drugs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6246990,"County insurance committee: benefits fund balance strong; stop-loss and state family-leave law could raise costs",152,626000,778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213529-623b3adcca5b8ffef69032bdadcf9183&start=626&end=778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213529-623b3adcca5b8ffef69032bdadcf9183/thumbnail_626000.jpg","/articles/6246990/Pine-County/Minnesota/County-insurance-committee-benefits-fund-balance-strong-stop-loss-and-state-family-leave-law-could-raise-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246990-cdbe11c6ceb178023338487bdaf1b4be/orig.mp4?Expires=1775436120&Signature=R1-vT6aCM~whLfuIuYS9a38ioES9wnGNx71PSQuvwsbgm-qyqtguUmtxi6kztUiAk9ygqnYVizgcEXQXH2EKAhySb---jYEPK4yD9qWVfW-S4iqs7HD6PhMN7zbxW3EL9EaUDDrUs721MOS0RjKl-HThbCC8NSFow-hnnSGK8FKRtez0-5jIEkK8i~qQhRopkVAH1-YsvnwRIhKJugKE9iLLL0zBBHNqAF~Vfgq0IvNmHFsZjwATDVe7WtPLbhZ-nvpzMNeXOUWDIG4pLaNriLw2do7FlNU1Xt4spIL4WNqovOeT3vlxp9raxOx9ZBrLezkJM5ZWtThdTQsuUxT~Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff reported to the board on May 20 that Pine County’s employee health plan is financially sound but faces potential pressures from stop-loss costs and the pending implementation of Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.

An unnamed member of the county’s insurance committee told commissioners the county’s insurance “is in good shape” and that the committee expects the county may see increases in stop-loss premiums and will try to negotiate with Blue Cross Blue Shield. The speaker also said the committee is exploring whether the county will adopt an alternate insurance plan or enroll in the state plan when the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act takes effect.

A county administrator added detail on enrollment after the county moved from single vs. family options to a four-tier structure (single; employee plus spouse; employee plus children; family). He reported enrollment distributions of roughly 50 percent single, 28 percent family, 12 percent employee-plus-children and 17 percent employee-plus-spouse. He said employees generally reported satisfaction with the options and that most favored staying with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Board members asked staff to bring any decisions about the state family-leave law to the personnel committee so the board can review financial obligations and options; staff said a fuller update would come over the summer. No formal action was taken at the meeting on the family-leave question or on negotiations with Blue Cross.

The discussion preceded other agenda items, including the medical examiner report and a child-protection presentation that raised separate budgetary concerns for Health and Human Services.","Pine County's insurance committee reported a healthy fund balance and employee satisfaction with a new four-tier benefit option, but committee members flagged potential stop-loss cost increases and uncertainty about the Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Act and whether the county will join the state plan.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6246994,"Pine County votes to end Blue Cross care-coordination delegation; three staff to be reassigned to mandated services",128,4119000,4247000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213529-623b3adcca5b8ffef69032bdadcf9183&start=4119&end=4247","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213529-623b3adcca5b8ffef69032bdadcf9183/thumbnail_4119000.jpg","/articles/6246994/Pine-County/Minnesota/Pine-County-votes-to-end-Blue-Cross-care-coordination-delegation-three-staff-to-be-reassigned-to-mandated-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246994-a62afd8f70136aac82b17ca55e317e25/orig.mp4?Expires=1775436120&Signature=apuZezZlRNE~Xq5lb0C7YGdIGUhBVqzJMVmw8rtFa1Q3Myibmo7~2GkCqw9AK3qovyR~sdZVxDiSbWmKsINbdaOK4-dekdbn56~c1GvX0uJsBJcmXZLToEBRIZBgVT3fmeh-7~-uhGZIOV1seTfpB686WKNj9b~BCylLAxQQT1mLgQ1edeLRswf2DBKK4UEph1dKjYRzioTdMRhv3AtUmZFMk7vc8evhx1q8v7EBuhQEDu0Jnh9mFfPIhSE23h6m5O5raTUI8GMPEKYhIa3344yYYGNWZBu1VEJOS-QHbCU9mwnKNr~VDTrWDsQB0O9fnqaGZZ-Q7pvdt26-039DRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pine County Board approved a motion on May 20 to terminate the county's care-coordination delegation agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield effective at the end of the year.

Health and Human Services Director Becky Fossum told the board the county has provided Blue Cross care-coordination services through three staff members but is facing growing waiting lists and mandated work, including MNChoices assessments and home- and community-based-services requirements. She said the department intends to reassign those three employees to mandated services and that Blue Cross will need to contract with another provider to continue delegated care-coordination services for its members.

“We'd like to modify our agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield to no longer provide that service, redirect those resources that we have to mandated programs, including MNChoices assessment and home and community based services,” Fossum said.

Commissioners moved and seconded the termination motion and the board voted in favor; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript. The action was presented as administrative reallocation of staff rather than a staffing layoff: Fossum said staff will be shifted to county-mandated assessments and supports.

No further formal actions or contractor appointments were made at the meeting; the board’s vote ends the county’s delegation arrangement with Blue Cross as of year-end and places responsibility on Blue Cross to secure a new delegate for its care-coordination work.","The Pine County Board approved a motion to terminate its care-coordination delegation agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield at year-end; county staff who provided that service will be reassigned to mandated work such as MNChoices assessments, the county said.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pine County HHS reports decline in out-of-home placement costs but warns of costly new state active-efforts law

Midwest Medical Examiner reports 262 deaths in Pine County; meth, fentanyl present in fatal overdoses

County insurance committee: benefits fund balance strong; stop-loss and state family-leave law could raise costs

Pine County votes to end Blue Cross care-coordination delegation; three staff to be reassigned to mandated services