St. Louis County commissioners voted Oct. 14 to authorize entering a joint powers agreement with the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa that will establish the band as a lead agency for certain home‑ and community‑based services (HCBS) for Bois Forte members.

The agreement follows about four years of discussions among the band, St. Louis County and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) about how to expand access to Medicaid‑waivered services on the Bois Forte reservation. Terry McCabe, division director for home and community‑based services in St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services, told the board Bois Forte completed provider enrollment and currently provides waivered services such as home‑delivered meals, chore services, transportation, personal response systems, family training and counseling, and nutritional services.

McCabe said Bois Forte intends to perform MN Choices assessments — the state assessment process used to determine eligibility and services for waiver programs — and ultimately provide waiver case management for its members. The county will continue to perform intake, MN Choices assessments and waiver case management for county residents, but the joint powers agreement will create a coordinated process to identify Bois Forte members at intake and to offer them a choice to receive assessments and services from Bois Forte or St. Louis County. McCabe said the county will provide technical support and training as Bois Forte staff assume new assessor roles.

Board members emphasized respect for tribal sovereignty and the trauma many elders experienced in boarding schools, citing the need for tribal‑led approaches. Commissioner Boyle moved the action and Commissioner Nelson seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote with no recorded roll‑call in the transcript.

Administrator Grama and McCabe described the joint powers agreement as an instrument to formalize information‑sharing, access to state systems, and the roles and responsibilities of the county, DHS and the band. McCabe said the initial focus is on Bois Forte residents within St. Louis County and noted geographic complexities where Bois Forte service locations cross county lines (including locations that fall partly in Koochiching County and some locations outside the county).

The board’s vote authorizes county officials to finalize and execute the joint powers agreement and to work with Bois Forte and DHS on implementing coordinated intake, assessments and case transfer processes.