NEW ULM — Brown County Human Services Director Barb Dietz and Child Protection Supervisor Denise Kamm told Brown County commissioners Tuesday that they have struggled with recurring maltreatment of children, especially when chemical abuse is involved.

According to the 2022 county child services summary, 22 children were removed from residences for physical abuse, 10 for neglect, eight for child reasons, seven for parental chemical use, two each for domestic violence and educational neglect and one each for sex and emotional abuse.

“We struggle with recurring maltreatment,” said Brown County Child Protection Supervisor Denise Kamm. “We’re working with more families for longer time periods, especially when chemical abuse is involved. Those cases may be managed for a year or more.”

Thirty-four children left out of home placement in 2022. Twenty-two were reunified with parents, 11 were adopted and one aged out of care.

Almost half of the families served in 2022 received case management services for 7 to 12 months. An additional 20% of families received services for 13 to 24 months.

Brown County child protection workers continue to be short-staffed, averaging 15 cases each, considered twice as many cases for each worker, compared to some other counties.

As of March 6, 2023, there were 14 sibling groups of 32 children in out-of-home placement due to maltreatment. Ten children are placed with relatives. Five kids are waiting for adoption or custody transfer to be finalized. Three children are state wards available for adoption. Fourteen children are the subjects of permanency petitions (no reunification with a parent).

Adoption often takes close to a year to finalize from the time paperwork is submitted to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).

The DHS says staffing issues cause the long delays plus additional additional documentation continually being added to the process.

Commissioner Dave Borchert said child protection is very difficult and thanked staff for their work.

“A lot of counties are past the breaking point. Are you?” Borchert asked.

“We’re at the breaking point. We’ve been short-staffed for about one and one-half years,” Kamm said.

Human services staffer praised Kamm for creating a great work atmosphere and for staff supporting each other.

“Brown County is a good county to work for. If not for my co-workers, I wouldn’t be here,” said one staffer.

Brown County Administrator Sam Hansen said he’s impressed with human services department.

“I’ve been in on new staff interviews. What surprises and amazes me is the power of positivity here,” Hansen said. “When people are positive, others feed off it.”

“I’ve been very lucky to be able to hire excellent workers,” said Brown County Human Services Director Barb Dietz.

She said the lack of residential placement options for children with serious emotional disorders and/or developmental disabilities is causing more children to placed out of state while monthly face to face visits are still required.

The lack of available mental health resources adds to the crisis plus some COVID after-effects are showing on children and families.

“Our foster homes are filled but discussions are underway on bringing more resources to our county and region,” Dietz added.

Other system improvements are needed.

“The funding we get is mostly for adult mental health. We need more funding and resources for children,” Dietz said. “Providing incentives for providers to work with difficult kids would help staffing. We’re keeping our foster care families for a very long time. They need a break.”

“We need a universal referral form,” said Brown County Mental Health Supervisor Julie Hogen. “There are a lot of inefficiencies. The system has been underfunded for so many years, it’s in disarray.”