How To Get Started

Fees

Child foster care licensing is provided by Clay County Social Services. There is no application fee required.

Process Length & Questions

The process takes approximately 3 months depending on how quickly the necessary verifications are returned to our office. You should receive your actual license in the mail about two weeks following approval.

If you have questions, please contact the licensor. Thank you for your interest in child foster care.

Helpful Information

Helpful information is available below from web pages outside of the Clay County website:

Beginning the Process

To begin the child foster care licensing process, complete the 4 forms available below.

Return completed forms to Clay County Social Services:
Clay County Social Services
ATTN: CFC Licensing
715 11th Street N.
Suite 502
Moorhead, MN 56560

By completing and submitting these 4 forms first the licensing process can proceed; thus, accelerating the entire process

Home Visit

You will also be contacted by someone in our office to schedule a home visit to go through the home safety checklist (PDF) with you. For additional information review the Minnesota State Department of Public Safety Fire Marshal website.

We will also conduct interviews with your family in order to get to know you and share further information about child foster care. This whole process is called a home study and is required by the Minnesota Foster Care Rule (PDF) and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Continuing the Process

To continue the process, complete all remaining forms / tasks found below and submit to the licensor at the licensing address above:

  • Applicant Autobiography: This document will assist your licensor in completing your foster / adopt home study.
  • Discipline Policy (PDF)
  • Complaint / Grievance Procedure Form (PDF): Every foster home in Clay County is required to have a program grievance procedure that permits persons served by the program and their authorized representatives to bring a grievance to the highest level of authority in the program. Use this form or develop your own complaint / grievance procedure. You are required to keep a copy of this policy in your home.
  • Alcohol and Drug Use Policy (PDF): Every foster home must have a policy that prohibits license holders, employees, subcontractors and volunteers, when directly responsible for person served by the program, from abusing prescription medication or being in any manner under the influence of a chemical that impairs the individual's ability to provide services or care. All of these individuals must be trained on this policy. You are required to keep a copy of this policy in your home also.
  • Background Study Log (PDF): A Foster home shall document the date you initiate a background study. When a background study is completed, a foster home shall maintain a notice that the study was undertaken and completed in your records.
  • Foster Family Fact Sheet (PDF): Please provide a current photo of your family.
  •  Well Water Test: If you do not have an approved municipal water system, your well water will need to be tested for Total Coliforms (indicators of bacterial pollution) and Nitrate Nitrogen. You may contact the Clay County Environmental Health Department for a well water sample container. This test will need to be completed annually.
  •  Pet Immunization: Please provide a copy of pet immunization records for each of your pets.
  • Statement of Intended Use (PDF)
  • Agreement Between Foster Parent and Licensing Agency (PDF)
  • Home Safety Checklist (PDF): This will be completed during a home visit with your licensor.
  • Floor and Escape Plan (PDF): This form assists an applicant in meeting the requirement of emergency procedures being planned, written and posted in the home. The floor plan must be posted in your home and we need a copy of the plan.

Training Requirements: 

All relative and nonrelative foster parents are required to have training prior to being licensed. Your licensor will give you a list and go over with you the training that is required and where you can locate it.  

Smoke free foster care: 

If there is an identified smoker residing in the home, you are required to view the following 20 minute video produced by the MN Department of Human Services

In MN all child foster homes must be smoke free and prevent second hand exposure to children per MN 260C.215, Subd. 4, 6 & 9. this includes inside the home as well as any space connected to the home, including a garage, porch, deck or similar space; all outdoor areas on the premises of the home when a foster child is present; and in a motor vehicle in which a foster child is transported.

If a foster parent fails to provide a smoke-free environment for a foster child, the child-placing agency must ask the foster parent to comply with a plan that includes training on the health risks of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Mandated Reporter Training

All foster parents are considered mandated reporters.  The law requires mandated reporters to make reports if they know of or have reason to believe children are being neglected or abused.  Please complete the following:  Mandated Reporter Training.

Training Required if Providing Car for Children 9 or Under

Car Seat Training

As part of Minnesota Statute § 245A.18 licensed foster providers are required to complete car seat safety training every 5 years to transport children under the age of nine.  B.E.S.T. (Basic Education for Safe Travel) Program is a streamlined, hybrid approach that follows a hybrid format with two steps: an online course (Step 1) that covers essential car seat safety, and an in-person, hands-on skills evaluation (Step 2) to practice proper car seat installation and child harnessing techniques.

Below is the link to register for the training and some additional information about it:

https://sanfordhealth.formstack.com/forms/best

More information can be found by clicking on:

* a flyer about B.E.S.T. and how to complete the two-step training. 

* tool for locating B.E.S.T. facilitators.

SUID videos

Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.50, requires sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) training for all license holders, staff persons, caregivers, and helpers who assist in the care of infants The Department of Children, Youth, and Families has approved the following series of videos to meet the SUID component when individuals are not receiving face-to-face, classroom, or online SUID training. All videos must be viewed to meet the SUID training requirement.

Please note: The videos below include portrayals of infant sleep environments in private, non-licensed homes that are not subject to the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.1435. Licensed child care providers must comply with statutory safe sleep requirements for sleeping infants, including nothing in the crib except for an infant’s pacifier. In addition, attachments or modifications to the crib are prohibited.

AHT videos

Abusive head trauma (AHT) training is required for all license holders, staff persons, caregivers, and helpers who care for infants and children under school age.The Department of Children, Youth, and Families has approved the following series of videos to meet the AHT component when license holders are not receiving face-to-face, classroom, or online AHT training. All videos must be viewed to meet the AHT training requirement.

Training verification

While no specific method of verification is required, you may print and sign this training verification form (DHS-3803) for documentation that you have watched each of the videos to fulfill your training requirement.