Report to Legislature recommends preserving some federal benefits for foster youth; counties urge caution on cost and administration

A report produced for the Department of Children, Youth and Families recommends preserving certain federal cash benefits for eligible children in foster care and asked the Legislature to set the program’s scope and eligibility. Agency staff and county leaders told the Health and Human Services Committee that the proposal raises complex operational and fiscal questions that will need legislative resolution.

Jennifer Sommerfeld, government relations director for DCYF, walked senators through the MADD analysis and stakeholder engagement during the Jan. 30 hearing. The study collected input from counties, tribes, youth with lived experience, and community organizations and reviewed state and federal statutes and other states’ approaches. Sommerfeld said the engagement showed ‘‘support … for preserving federal benefits while in foster care’’ but that stakeholders also raised concerns about financial exploitation, administrative costs and impacts on youth eligibility for other assistance.

What the report found

- Scope and prevalence: Counties reported serving as representative payees for an average of 10 children per county per year (range 0–136). Across Minnesota the report calculated an average of about 739 children or youth per year…