Adult Foster Care  

What is Adult Foster Care?


Adult foster homes are typically family-sized homes that care for up to four qualifying adults. Qualifying adults are those who need help with everyday personal care due to mental illness, physical disability, developmental delay, or aging. Those who qualify for foster care do not need institutional care but are capable of living in the community.  The home can be operated by a family or an individual. It may also be operated by a corporation, governmental unit, or business partnership. The home provides 24 hour care, meals, support, supervision, household services, and help with personal cares, medication management, money management, and living skills as needed.

 

As an adult foster care provider, it is your responsibility to provide a home-like setting along with caring for and supporting the individuals and providing companionship. You are providing an opportunity for individuals to be as independent as their disability or age allows for as long as possible while remaining in the community. Foster families may request a certain gender, age, disability, and anticipated duration of placement. What is most important is that the family is able to provide a safe, nurturing environment and be able to work with the individual’s support staff and family, as well as the individual in their care.

 

 

What types of Adult Foster Care are available?

˛ Long term - for an indefinite period of time.

˛ Short-term - for a limited period of time until the individual learns the skills needed to live independently.

˛ Respite care (short term) - to provide short-term care to a person due to the need for relief and support

     of the caregiver and/or protection of the person or others living with that person.

 

 

What are the requirements for Adult Foster Care?
To become licensed as an Adult Foster Care provider, the applicant must meet these minimum licensing standards:

˛ Live in Stevens County

˛ The home or rental where care will be provided meets the Fire Safety Code

˛ Be at least 18 years of age

˛ Passed criminal background checks for all household members who are 13 years of age or older (and anyone who may have direct

     unsupervised contact with clients)

˛ Provide a physician’s statement that they are physically able to care for vulnerable adult(s) placed in the

     home (includes anyone who may provide care)

˛ Provide three references that are positive

˛ Have bedrooms available that meet the minimum square footage requirements

˛ Complete a home study of the family with the licensor

˛ Meet required training hours annually

 

 

Who Qualifies for Adult Foster Care

 

˛ Adults age 18 or older, who agree to placement in an adult foster care home

˛ Does not require hospitalization or care in another type of medical or psychiatric facility

˛ Is recommended for placement by a social worker or public health nurse through an assessment process

˛ Does not display suicidal or homicidal tendencies, or exhibit violent or aggressive behavior that cannot be managed in a foster care setting

˛ Has a source of payment for care. This may be private or public funding

 

The adults who benefit most from foster care are those who need help with everyday personal care due to a developmental delay, mental illness, physical disability or aging.

 

To apply or for additional answers, please contact:                                                                                 

 

Elisa Ettesvold

Stevens County Human Services

10 Highway 28 East

Morris, MN 56267

Phone: (320)589-7400

Email: elisaettesvold@co.stevens.mn.us

MN Rules, Regulations and Updates Forms

         Rule 9555.5050- 9555.6265- MN Rule governing Adult Foster Care

         245A Statute – Statute governing Human Service Licensing

         245C Statute- Statute governing Background Studies

MN Fire Code –Fire Code regulating Adult Foster Care