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NEW ULM -- After hearing about the need for more foster care homes, Brown County Commissioners discussed asking for state funding help Tuesday.
"I'd like to see a letter sent to legislators about the need for more funds for foster care providers," said Commissioner Braun.
"I always tell people we need more foster homes. This is a statewide problem. We're placing people with relatives more now than in the past," said Brown County Social Worker Laura Filzen. "Most foster care providers get a daily stipend of about $25 to $35 a day to cover the cost of a child's needs. Children also get medical coverage."
As of August 2026, Brown County has 11 homes with an active Child Foster Care License, according to the county licensing report. Eight homes are in the New Ulm area. There is one home in rural New Ulm, one in rural Sleepy Eye and one in Sleepy Eye.
There are 25 corporate foster care homes in Brown County, 22 in the New Ulm area, one in Sleepy Eye and one in Springfield. Twenty homes serve four residents, two each five and three residents and one home serves one resident.
Filzen said a $2,100 annual license fee is split evenly between the State of Minnesota and counties.
"More funding would help us get more providers," said Commissioner Scott Windschitl.
"I commend people who do foster care. They deal with all kinds of issues," said Commissioner Tony Berg.
Brown County Human Services Director Anne Broskoff said she would write the letter.
Filzen said foster care providers are required to do 12 hours of training per year including children's mental health, fetal alcohol, prudent parenting, mandated reporter training and abusive head trauma. She said county human services does training several times a year that often deals with trauma.
Brown County has 71 licensed family child care providers, with 27% of the providers age 60 or above.
New Child Care Modernization legislation effective July 1, 2027 includes increased regulation for water hazards, added radon testing notification and more playground safety requirements.
Annual, unscheduled home inspections are required for all licensed child care provider programs. License holders maintain online orientation for those interested in becoming licensed for family child care and follow up with in-home one-on-one orientation meetings.
License holders provide annual legislative review training, health and safety training and help bring in local training for licensed child care providers.
A seasonal newsletter is mailed to family child care provides that includes child care policy updates, consumer product recalls, safety updates and other resources to enhance family child care.
Unanimous human services licensing report approval came on a motion by Commissioner Tony Berg, seconded by Jeff Veerkamp.