You can Make a Difference in the Life of a Child - Become a Licensed Foster Home
By THE FAMILY SERVICES FOSTER CARE DEPARTMENT
It takes a community to raise children. We need your help.
The Mille Lacs Band Foster Care Department is holding a designated recruitment during the month of May 2022. In hopes to have great responses, Foster Care will be out in District I, II, IIa, III, and Urban during the scheduled district monthly meetings doing a brief presentation for all Mille Lacs Band members, family, friends, and participants.
The need for Mille Lacs Band foster homes has never been greater. While family placement is preferred, it is not always possible to place children with family. Our goal in the Mille Lacs Band Foster Care program is to keep children with their families in a Mille Lacs Band licensed home when the parents/ guardians cannot provide a safe and nurturing environment. There are too many children in out of home placements in other county licensed foster homes. One of our biggest challenges in Foster Care is not having enough Mille Lacs Band licensed homes.
As a foster family, you will play a critical role as one of multiple people who will support the children and families. Foster parents support the children and provide support to the biological family members working on their case plans to get their children back.
Our purpose is to keep siblings together when possible. Siblings are often separated because there are not enough homes to place the children together.
Foster parenting has the potential to create a healthier, futuristic family dynamic. The children would have the opportunity to experience a safe and nourishing home environment. Foster families provide for teaching life lessons to encourage a healthy transition from youth to adulthood.
There are many benefits to becoming a foster parent. There is nothing more rewarding than to help shape and form a child, give them a voice, show them a loving and safe home, and instill cultural values and traditions.
The moments of reunification will be gratifying. You will have been a bridge for the parents and the children. You will have been a support person — a hero.
Learn more about fostering
Throughout the month of May at the regular community meetings in each district, members of the Foster Care department will be presenting facts and information on fostering. There, you will learn about the number of children who need your help. You will also learn about the different levels of care and the many ways a potential foster care provider can become an emergency, relative, respite, secondary, regular, specialized, medically fragile, infant, teenager, or permanency licensed home with a 120-day period.
In addition, there will be an explanation of guardianships and adoptions to be able to understand the differences between Emergency Guardianships vs. Regular Guardianships and explore the process of adoption.
You will also hear inspiring words from current foster parents who will share their reasons for choosing to become foster parents and why they continue to do so year after year. They will also offer pieces of advice for your journey to becoming foster parents.
The process to become a licensed foster home
During phase I, you will fill out the preliminary application paperwork, complete the process for fingerprinting for the Adam Walsh Background Study, and submit urine samples for every household member age 13-plus. There will also be a home study, and a home safety assessment. Home studies and home safety assessments in the application process are important to ensure it is a safe and healthy environment for the children.
In phase II, an orientation session is held in the Ne Ia Shing Clinic at 18562 Minobimaadizi Loop, Onamia, to go over the policies and procedures as well as the trainings that are required to become licensed such as first aid/CPR training, and car seat training.
Finally, in phase III, home safety assessments will be completed to ensure your newly licensed foster home has all safety checks approved and sleeping space/beds for foster children. We will also go over fire drills, emergency evacuation plans, and a floor map.
Your newly licensed foster home could expect any of the team members to frequently visit your home to ensure that the foster children are a good fit, and that your home remains a safe, happy home for our Mille Lacs Band children. Team members include but are not limited to:
• Mille Lacs Band Social Workers, County Social Workers, Foster Care Licensors, Case Aides/Transporters, Guardian Ad Litem, and QEW.
• Tribal Court Team Members: Tribal Judge, Tribal Peacemaker, OSG, and Band Member Legal Aid.
You can make a difference in the life of a child by becoming a Licensed Foster Care Provider. By signing up during the month of May and becoming fully licensed, you will also receive a gift card as a token of appreciation from Foster Care. To learn more about how to start your new journey today, please enjoy the presentations at your next community meeting in your district. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Foster Care team at:
• Connie Moose, Foster Care Supervisor, 320-362-0349, Connie.Moose@hhs.millelacsband-nsn.gov.
• Twyla Sam, Licensor/Recruiter, 320-630-4613, Twyla. Sam@hhs.millelacsband-nsn.gov.
• Candace Shaugobay, Licensor/Recruiter, 320-362-4744, Candace.Shaugobay@hhs.millelacsband-nsn.gov.
• Jordan MacDonald, Licensor/Recruiter, 320-362-4734, Jordan.Macdonald@hhs.millelacsband-nsn.gov.
• Chelsea Holmvig, Licensor/Recruiter, 320-630-5778, Chelsea.Holmvig@hhs.millelacsband-nsn.gov.
