Overview Types of Foster Care Becoming a Provider  FAQ Licensing Laws Other Helpful Resources Provider Forms Placement Packet Meeting Schedules/ Training Dates Certification Need More Information?

Overview of Adult Foster Care 

Adult Foster Care (AFC) is a licensed, sheltered living arrangement for up to five adults with special needs; these adults are unable to live alone due to their special needs. AFC homes provide five basic services: room, board, supervision, protection, and household services. Providers may also assist with medication, the managing of money, or personal care.

AFC providers receive a monthly payment, and this is based on the intensity of care needed. Qualified payments for the first five qualified placements in a traditional family foster care home in a calendar year may be non-taxable. "Private pay" client payments are taxable.

Traditional family adult foster care licensed providers are covered by a group liability insurance policy paid for by the State of Minnesota.

AFC providers receive training opportunities and support from county social service professional staff.

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Types of Foster Care

Traditional Adult Foster Care is based in a family home. The resident is usually unknown at time of licensure, and it is most often a long-term placement.

Respite is short-term care given as a ‘retreat’ for the primary caregiver of the resident. It involves prearranged weekends or vacations for the family. A new provider may choose to do respite to get some experience with residents.

Family Adult Day Services is a program for participants who are all over 55 and do not have a primary diagnosis of mental illness or mental retardation. The capacity can be up to eight participants.  The program operates fewer than 24 hours per day.

Corporate Adult Foster Care occurs when the license holder does not reside in the licensed site.  The corporation usually uses shift staff to care for the residents.  As of July 1, 2009, no initial licenses shall be issued for adult foster care in a physical location that will not be the primary residence of the license holder for the entire period of licensure.  The only exception to this law is if Wright County determines a need for Adult Foster Care services for an identified group of clients.

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Becoming a Provider

Please contact the AFC Licensor at 763-682-7489 to inquire about the current need for AFC homes.  The applicant's name will be placed on a waiting list until the need for additional homes arises.  Orientation for AFC applicants will be scheduled as the need for additional homes arises.

Application for Adult Foster Care License
SSIS Application for Foster Care Licensure 

NOTE: Forms are in Adobe Acrobat format.  If necessary download the free Reader from Adobe's website.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Adult Foster Care?
Adult Foster Care is a licensed setting for adults who are unable to live alone due to physical, emotional, or developmental impairments. The home provides 24 hour care for one to five functionally impaired residents. Residents receive meals, support, supervision, and some assistance with personal cares and living skills as needed. There is a minimum room and board payment made to providers per month which is set by the State. In addition to room and board, a difficulty of care (DOC) rating is often justified. Some residents privately pay for their adult foster care services.

What are the requirements for Adult Foster Care?
To become licensed as an Adult Foster Care provider, the applicant must meet minimum licensing standards:
* live in Wright County in a home that meets fire safety code
* be at least 18 years of age
* pass a criminal background check on all household members who are 13 years of age or older (and anyone who may have direct unsupervised contact with the client)
* provide a physician’s statement that they are physically able to care for vulnerable adult(s) placed in the home
* provide three positive references
* have bedroom space available for resident(s)
* meet with the licensor to complete a home study of the family
* meet required training hours annually

What types of support do Adult Foster Care providers receive?
A minimum room and board payment is made to providers per month which is set by the State. In addition, a difficulty of care rating is often justified. Medical and dental costs are covered through Medical Assistance or other medical insurance, and are not the responsibility of the Adult Foster Care provider. Each resident has a placement case manager, and the Adult Foster Care provider has a licensing social worker to help them with problems and find resources to meet the residents' needs. Adult Foster Care providers participate in on-going training/support groups and may become a part of Local, State, and National Foster Parent Associations.

What do I have to do to become a licensed provider?
Information on becoming a licensed adult foster care provider is available on our website at Becoming a Provider.

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Licensing Laws

Definitions of Maltreatment
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/626/5572.html
 
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
http://www.dps.state.mn.us/fmarshal/fmarshal.html

Minnesota Statute 245A - Human Services Licensing Act
https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=245A 

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Other Helpful Resources

Adult Foster Care Provider Meeting September 30, 2009 - This information was presented at the Adult Foster Care provider meeting held at Wright County Human Services on September 30, 2009.  The information includes statistics, H1N1 updates, and legislative updates on background studies, VA training, data privacy, capacity, and supervision technology.

211 Information and Referral - http://www.211.org/.  "211" is the national abbreviated dialing code for access to health and human services information and referral.  211 is a free, confidential service with universal social value, accessible to the entire population and national in scope.  211 is for everyone - from individuals, families, and professionals to community agencies, government, and people facing barriers due to language, poverty or personal difficulty.  Calling 211 will help anyone get information and access to vital community services.  The 211 call will be answered 24/7 by an Information and Referral Specialist who assesses the caller's needs and refers the person to the appropriate community, social, health and government services.

Alzheimer's Association - http://www.alz.org/.  The Alzheimer's Association is the largest national voluntary health organization supporting Alzheimer research and care.

Carbon Monoxide Information - www.dps.state.mn.us/fmarshal/CO/CarbonMonoxideAlarmInfoSheet.pdf.

Fire Drill Guidelines

Fire Extinguisher Maintenance

Fire Extinguisher Service

Foster Provider Liability Coverage through Minnesota Joint Underwriting Association - 1-800-552-0013.  All foster care providers in the State of Minnesota licensed by the Department of Human Services, Department of Corrections, approved by a tribal government or a court, and foster clients are automatically covered by the policy.  Adult foster care providers must also live in the home with the clients and be the primary care giver.

MNet Information (MN Non-Emergency Transportation) - http://www.mtm-inc.net/.

Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Mental Retardation - http://www.ombudmhmr.state.mn.us/.

Schedule II Controlled Substances - www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/listby_sched/sched2.htm.  Schedule II controlled substances must be stored in a locked area.

Tax Information - www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf.  Publication 17 contains tax information regarding certain foster care payments.

The Arc - http://www.thearc.org/.  The Arc is a national organization of and for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families.

Services Available to Seniors Booklet

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Provider Forms

Appeal/Grievance Procedure - Timelines for appealing negative licensing actions and grievance procedures for providers.

Caregiver Training Record - Caregivers with 0-5 years of licensure/experience are required to complete 12 hours of training annually.  Caregivers with 6+ years of licensure/experience are required to complete 6 hours annually.

Competency Rule - This review test must be completed by applicants at initial licensure.  It also may be used as a training aid for AFC homes which employ staff.

Competency VA Act - This review test must be completed by applicants at initial licensure and by all license holders and care givers annually.  Review of the VA Act and completion of this test meets a portion of the Statute requirement for VA Act annual training. 

Disaster Plan - This form will be used in the case of an emergency involving a natural disaster or catastrophic event.  Providers must update the licensor of any changes to the contact information on the form.

Floor and Escape Plan - To diagram provider's home.

Home Safety Checklist - Licensor uses to inspect provider's home.

Incident Report - Provider completes when an accident occurs.

Individual AFC/FADS Background Studies Training - Link to the DHS website for providers to be trained on entering background study information on NETStudy.

Physician's Report - To be filled out by provider's physician.

Provider Enrollment Application - All providers delivering services to enrollees of MN Health Care Programs (MHCP) must complete an Enrollment Application form and a Provider Agreement form.  A provider number must be assigned in order for the provider to be able to submit a claim for payment for Adult Foster Care services provided to clients on the Elderly Waiver, CADI Waiver, TBI Waiver, or MR/RC Waiver.

Quarterly Fire and Storm Drill Log - To document provider's fire and storm drills.

Record of Resident Placements - To document resident placements.

NOTE: Forms are in Adobe Acrobat format.  If necessary download the free Reader from Adobe's website.

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Placement Packet

The Placement Packet must be completed at admission for every Adult Foster Care resident in the home.  The license holder is responsible for assuring that these forms are completed according to MN Rule 9555.6245.

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Meeting Schedules/Training Dates

No Meeting Schedules or Training Dates available at this time.

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Certification

Instructional Bulletin #91-67J
August 21, 1991
County Certification of Persons Providing AFC to Relatives Age 65 or Older
Effective July 1, 1991, a person who is exempt from licensure under Minnesota Statute 245A.03, subdivision 2, who provides adult foster care to a related individual age 65 and older, and who meets the licensing requirements in Minnesota Rules 9555.5105 to 9555.6265 (Rule 203 - Adult Foster Care Licensing Rule), may be certified by the county to provide adult foster care. The relative may be reimbursed if s/he suffers a financial hardship as a result of providing the care. Financial hardship refers to a situation in which a relative incurs a substantial reduction in income because s/he resigns from a full-time job or takes a leave of absence without pay from a full-time job to care for the client.

NOTE: These certified relative foster homes are not exempt from the negotiated rate moratorium. Minnesota Supplemental Aid cannot be used for any part of the room and board rate in these certified homes.

In order to be certified to provide Adult Foster Care in Wright County, the applicant will undergo the same initial and re-licensing processes as applicants for licensure. If the applicant is to be certified, the license application (DHS form 3324) will not be mailed to the Minnesota Department of Human Services and will be retained in the licensing file.

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Need More Information?

You can contact us in a variety of ways:

E-Mail:  Contact our staff at afclicensing@co.wright.mn.us.

Telephone:  Nesa Black, 763-682-7489.

Office:  Our office is located in Buffalo in the Human Services Center.  A map and address to the office are available online for your convenience.

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