Morrison County approves joining LEAF program to recoup legal costs for parents in child-protection cases

The Morrison County Board of Commissioners voted to approve county participation in the LEAF program, a state reimbursement process intended to return a portion of legal costs the county incurs representing parents in child-protection proceedings, Health and Human Services Director Nathan Bertram said.

The move authorizes an agreement in which attorneys who provide legal advocacy for parents will report time to the county administration office; administration and Health and Human Services will verify that the parents were served and submit quarterly claims to the state for reimbursement. "The program is called LEAF," Bertram told the board, and the county aims to start July 1 and submit quarterly bill-back reports as the process ramps up.

The county expects the program to recoup roughly $17,000 a year based on preliminary state estimates, Bertram said. The contract with the attorney who currently provides most parent representation, Scott Wunderlich, predates this program; that contract was described as $3,000 per month previously and $3,100 per month for 2025. Bertram said the county believes about half of those contract costs could be recoverable through LEAF, but the amount is subject to state rules and possible budget changes.

Bertram and administration staff described the mechanics of participation: private counsel report quarterly activity to the administration office; administration coordinates with Health and Human Services to confirm service to eligible parents; Health and Human Services submits required case information to the state to pursue reimbursement. Bertram said the county has discussed the approach with County Attorney Mittendorf and the attorney providing services and that the county would not need new staff for the initial implementation.

Commissioner Mitch Winter made the motion to approve participation in the LEAF program; Commissioner David Moran seconded. The motion was approved by voice vote with aye recorded and the chair declaring the motion carried. The record did not show a roll-call vote.

Bertram said participation is voluntary and the county could discontinue if it proved impractical. "Our goal is to start July 1," he told commissioners, adding the first quarter would be a learning period and he planned to return with an update by year end.

Discussion-only items: board members asked procedural questions about eligibility, the need to coordinate with administration and county attorney review. Bertram said Health and Human Services is an IV-E provider and that structure enables the county to submit the necessary time and case information to the state.