Aitkin County HHS seeks foster and respite homes; social worker details licensing, costs and how to apply

Brenda Butterfield, a social worker with Aitkin County Health & Human Services and the county's foster-care licenser, urged residents to consider becoming licensed foster or respite caregivers and described the steps, time and minimal costs involved.

Aitkin County currently has four non-relative foster homes in the area—Brenda cited McGregor, the Tamarack area, Hill City and homes in Aitkin—and she said the county especially needs homes willing to take teenagers and short-term respite placements. “Aitkin County has four non-relative foster homes,” Brenda said. “Respite is really a great need that Aitkin County has right now.”

The county prioritizes placing Aitkin County children but often receives requests from other counties looking for beds, Brenda said, and she framed foster-home shortages as a statewide issue similar to shortages in child-care providers. She said Aitkin County also coordinates placements to assist tribal children.

Licensing and training: Brenda said the license is issued by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and that the county helps applicants complete the process. “It takes anywhere from 2 to 3 months,” she said of the training and licensing timeline. Initial trainings required for approval total roughly five hours, and licensed caregivers must complete about 12 hours of training each year. The county provides monthly online trainings and access to on-demand courses through a “foster parent college.”

Respite and placement details: Respite homes provide short-term care—up to 72 hours—when a parent needs a brief break; licensed respite homes may also accept longer placements. Brenda emphasized that placement decisions are individualized to match a child’s age, needs and sibling groups and that staff try to keep children within their school district when possible to preserve stability.

Costs and inspections: Brenda said licensing does not carry a fee but that the fingerprint background check costs about $13.50. If a fire marshal inspection is required (for example, when bedrooms are in a basement), the county covers the initial inspection cost.

How to apply: Residents interested in licensing should contact Aitkin County Health & Human Services and ask for Brenda Butterfield; she gave the local HHS phone number as 9277200 and said she is the county’s sole licenser and will send initial paperwork and answer questions. “I am the only licenser, so that would be the person they would contact,” Brenda said.

Brenda closed by thanking the county’s existing foster families and asking listeners to share information with neighbors who might consider opening their homes. The segment closed with the host restating Brenda’s role and the program signing off.