WILLMAR -- Kandiyohi County may pick up the slack in state and federal funding in order to help more teens stay healthy and out of permanent foster care.
For about $5,000 the county could help about 24 youth that would otherwise fall through the cracks created by stiffer state restrictions.
The Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners learned about the situation Tuesday when members met as the Family Services Committee. Kathy Buer, family services supervisor, said last year the county received about $13,500 for a program that provides teens in foster care with education about independent living skills. The program, which also includes peer support, was successful in helping youth return to their families, she said. Last year 32 youth participated.
This year the county will receive the same amount of money but the state has tightened the restrictions for which youth are eligible to participate, Buer said.
Under the new guidelines, youth who are expected to stay in foster care until they're 18 or those who have already "graduated" from foster care can participate.
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That means just eight youth can benefit from the program, said Liz Christenson, Lutheran Social Service youth program director. Lutheran Social Service provides the program, called "Support for Emancipation and Living Functionally," or SELF.
In the past, kids who moved in and out of foster care could participate in the preventative program. It often helped stop the foster care cycle, said Christenson. With the new restrictions, those kids won't be able to participate in the program.
"It means they have to grow up in foster care," Buer said.
Family Services Director Larry Kleindl, who is in the process of becoming county administrator, recommended that the county provide additional funding to make the program available to more kids.
The county must apply the new eligibility restrictions to utilize the state and federal money, but it's hoped the county can use its own money to serve additional youth without a penalty. County Board Chairman Harlan Madsen expressed frustration with the state's tactic to save money by cutting prevention programs that will eventually have a higher financial and social cost in the end.
Kleindl asked Buer and Christenson to write up a proposed contract for future board action. Buer and Christenson said they were both surprised and pleased that additional county funding could be available.
