Social Services
Adult Mental Health
The Adult Mental Health Services include Intake, information and referral, and case management for adults with mental health needs. Voluntary case management services are available to individuals who have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder. Case management connects individuals with supportive services to assist them to live independently within the community.
INTAKE WORKER:
Ph: 218-927-7200
Adult Protection Services
The Adult Protection team provides assessment and protective social services to individuals who meet the criteria of a vulnerable adult under Minnesota State Statute 626.5572. The focus of Adult Protection Services is to reduce the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults through education, referral to supportive services, and community outreach. Our Adult Protection team uses a multidisciplinary approach by partnering with the Aitkin County Attorney’s Office, regional City Police Departments, Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office, and other various State/Social Services agencies.
INTAKE WORKER:
Ph: 218-927-7200
Home and Community-based Services
Aitkin County Health & Human Services Home & Community Based Services provides opportunities for aging and disabled individuals to receive support and services in their own homes or in the community rather than institutions or other isolated settings.
INTAKE WORKER:
Ph: 218-927-7200
Children's Mental Health Services
Aitkin County Health & Human Services provides Children’s Mental Health Services. These Services are available for children ages 0 to 21 when children have a Serious Emotional Disturbance as determined by a Mental Health Professional. If a diagnostic assessment is needed to determine eligibility, our intake worker can assist with coordinating this.
Case Management Service – a service to help your child and family obtain the mental health services your child may need. Some examples of these services available are:
- Coordination of Services
- Coordination with School Staff / Medical Staff
- Family Support, Education, and Advocacy
- Referrals to Others Who Can Help
- Respite (Recreation Services)
- Written Service Plan and Crisis Plan
Set up an appointment to apply for services or ask questions about Children’s Mental Health Case Management Services
INTAKE WORKER:
Ph: 218-927-7200
Child Protection Services
- Reporting Suspected Child Abuse
- Phone: If you suspect child abuse or maltreatment, contact Aitkin County Health & Human Services Monday – Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm by calling 218-927-7200 or 1-800-328-3744 and ask to speak with the intake social worker.
- Email: Complete the Suspected Child Maltreatment Report form and submit via email to child.protection@co.aitkin.mn.us.
- After Hours/Weekends/Holidays: Email urgent reports to the child.protection@co.aitkin.mn.us email. This email is checked twice a day on holidays and weekends. Or contact the Sheriff’s Department at 218-927-7400 to make a report.
- Educational Neglect Truancy Reporting Form
When making a report, you will be asked to supply as many details as you can to better help us determine if the report meets the statutory definition of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment.
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- Mandated Reporters: Must report suspected child maltreatment over the phone within 24 hours and a written report must be submitted within 72 hours.
Intake and Referral Services
Reports are received through the Intake Social Worker. The Intake Social Worker can also answer any questions that may arise in regards to agency practices and services, discuss community resources, identify if the information is reportable, and any other strategies for a family to utilize.
All reports received through the intake process are screened with the Child Protection Screening Team within 24 hours of the report being received to determine whether the report meets Minnesota State Maltreatment Guidelines. Aitkin County Health & Human Services works alongside local Law Enforcement as well as community professionals to determine how to proceed.
Child Protection Assessment/Investigations
Child Protection Assessments are conducted in response to reports of child maltreatment not involving substantial child endangerment, sexual abuse, or situations of serious danger. The focus of a Child Protection Assessment is to engage a family’s protective factors and offer services that address immediate and ongoing safety concerns.
Child Protection investigations are a response to the most serious reports of maltreatment of children; including substantial child endangerment, sexual abuse, and sex trafficking. The focus of a Child Protection Investigation is to gather facts, assess/evaluate the risk for subsequent child maltreatment, and assess the family’s protective factors related to child safety. At the conclusion of the Child Protection Investigation, a determination based on the preponderance of the evidence is made as to whether child maltreatment occurred or not.
Child Protection & Child Welfare Case Management
Child Protection Case Management services are provided to families who have a need for protective services. The Social Worker will work alongside a family to develop a case plan with set goals to ensure safety and well-being. Services offered may include mental health services, chemical dependency services, parenting education, out-of-home placement, housing resources, employment resources, respite services, etc.
Child Welfare Case Management services are provided to families who are open to working with a social worker to address their needs on a longer-term basis that cannot be achieved through the assessment.
Child Welfare Services
- Child Welfare Case Management – Aitkin County Health & Human Services offers voluntary child welfare case management services. Through this service, we can assist a family with connecting to resources, and provide education on household management, money management, and/or parenting skills. Often our Family Worker is called upon to assist with these cases. The social worker and the family will determine their strengths & needs and a case plan will be developed that outlines how the family’s needs will be met.
- Truancy – Children deserve an education. A child is considered “habitually truant” by the state if he/she is between the age of 12 and under the age of 18 years and is absent from school without lawful excuse for seven school days and/or for one or more class periods on seven days. When a child is “habitually truant”, the school petitions the court alleging that the child is in need of protection or services. A social worker from the county is then assigned to assist the child and family with ensuring that the child is receiving the required educational services. The child and family’s needs will be assessed and a case plan will be created to address these needs. Monthly face-to-face contact will be held with the parents and child to review the plan and needs of the family.
- Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP) – Minnesota’s PSOP is a voluntary, early intervention program that focuses on a family’s strengths and needs and aims to help children and parents thrive.
To get additional information or access any of these services, please contact the intake social worker by calling 1-218-927-7200 or 1-800-328-3744.
Licensing
If you are interested in being a licensed provider of any of the services listed below contact:
Brenda Butterfield/Licensing Social Worker
Ph: 218-927-7221
Email: brenda.butterfield@co.aitkin.mn.us
Adult Day Care:
A family adult day service program is a program that operates fewer than 24 hours per day and provides adults who have functional impairments, none of which is under age 55, have a serious or persistent mental illness or people with developmental disabilities or a related condition, with an individualized and coordinated set of services including health services, social services and nutritional services that are directed at maintaining or improving the participants’ capabilities for self-care.
A family adult day services license is only issued when the services are provided in the license holder’s primary residence, and the license holder is the primary provider of care. The license holder may not serve more than eight adults at one time, including residents, if any, served under an adult foster care license issued under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to 9555.6262.
Adult Foster Care:
Adult Foster Care provides care for people age 18 and over who need supportive housing and services due to physical, emotional, developmental or mental health reasons. In family adult foster care, the license applicant opens their primary residence where they reside to an adult with special needs. The license holder would be the primary caregiver.
Providers of adult foster care are responsible for resident’s food, lodging, protection, supervision and household services. Other responsibilities may include medication assistance, personal care, money management, or living skills assistance.
Providers must be licensed in the county in which they reside. The county evaluates prospective homes and recommends licenses for those that meet state standards, monitors providers for compliance and supports quality foster homes for adults.
Child Foster Care
Aitkin County Health & Human Services offers assistance to Aitkin County residents wishing to become licensed to provide child foster care in their home. Foster parents can provide a stable and loving home for children who are in need of temporary care. Licensing includes home inspections, criminal background study, and education training. Licensed foster home providers are reimbursed for their care of foster children and receive ongoing training and support. Foster Care can be short term to long term.
Requirements to be a licensed provider include:
- Applicant(s) must be at least 21 years of age
- Applicant(s) must reside in Aitkin County
- Applicant(s) and adult household members must be free of chemical use problems for the past two years
- Applicant(s) need to have sufficient income to meet their own needs
- Applicant(s) and household members 13 years of age and over must pass a background check
- Applicant(s) should be one year from a major life change such as marriage, divorce, birth of a first child, or a significant loss, etc.
Family Child Care
Aitkin County Health & Human Services offers assistance to Aitkin County residents wishing to become licensed to provide child care in their home. Minnesota law requires persons to be licensed if providing care for children from more than one family unrelated to the provider.
Licensing Includes home inspections, a criminal background study, and the discussion of State licensing guidelines and standards. Providers are required to have ongoing training including infant/Child CPR and First Aid.