Social Services presents annual licensing and disability services update; managers flag foster‑care capacity and CFSS implementation issues

Clay County Social Services delivered its annual departmental update Tuesday, covering licensing and disability services, foster care capacity, the MNChoices assessment tool, and the state’s rollout of Community First Services and Supports (CFSS).

Jessica Mickelson, supervisor for the licensing and disability services division, reported the county has 58 family adult foster care (AFC) homes with a total capacity of 108 beds and 17 current openings; two new AFC homes were in the licensing process. She said corporate foster care capacity totals 121 homes with 325 beds, 311 of which are licensed for adults and 14 for children, noting a sustained decline in corporate child beds. Jessica said licensing in 2023–24 focused on county resident needs rather than accepting broad inquiries, and that 124 names remain on an inquiry waitlist for adult AFC homes unless a specific service recipient is identified.

On child foster care, county staff reported 42 licensed child foster homes (32 non‑relative, 10 relative) with applications in…