Beltrami County health officials propose parental fees for some out-of-home youth placements

Ann Lindsath, director of Health and Human Services, and Jeff Lind, social services division director, presented a draft parental fee policy to the Beltrami County Board, saying the measure would allow staff to collect parental income data needed to determine eligibility for federal 4E foster-care reimbursements and, in some cases, charge families a sliding fee for court-ordered or voluntary out-of-home placements.

"Parental fee policies are supported by Minnesota statute and rule," Ann Lindsath said, and the department has drafted a policy aligned with other county practices to both seek reimbursements and authorize a departmental fee schedule when appropriate.

Jeff Lind outlined how the policy would work in practice and why the county is proposing it now. He said counties often cannot claim 4E federal reimbursements…