To residents of Brown County:

As you think about your winter plans and upcoming holiday season, please consider fostering a local child in need. This pandemic has hit struggling families harder than anyone else and the demand for new foster and resource families has surged. Brown County is experiencing a dire, ongoing shortage of foster and resource families. Currently, there are fewer than ten traditional licensed foster homes throughout the county, all of which are full. On any given day there are up to 70 young people in Brown county in need of out of home care.

Foster families not only provide temporary homes, safety, and nurturing to our children, but they also help primary families by ensuring that children can be safely reunited with them.

Most families are trying to do their best for their children. The foster care system is intended to help them (both the parents and children) get back on track. Children enter foster care through no fault of their own. It may be due to neglect by their parents or caretakers. Sometimes addiction is involved, and/or physical or sexual abuse may have occurred.

Our priorities in Brown County must be to recruit and train more prospective foster parents, especially critical for teens, ensuring siblings remain together in care, and keeping foster youth in their own communities and schools. There are many opportunities — some foster parents care for children long-term while others provide care in emergencies or respite. What they all have in common is their willingness to open their hearts and homes for a short or extended period. If you know a family providing foster care, please take a moment and thank them for making a difference in the life of a child.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, please contact licensor, Laura Filzen, at Brown County Human Services at laura.filzen@co.brown.mn.us or call Brown County Human Services at 507-359-8246

Make A Difference – Be A Foster Parent in Your Community!