Social Services (Children &
Families) Unit
(Social Services Supervisor, Children &
Family Services - Sue Tange)
e-mail:
child.family.social.services@co.aitkin.mn.us
Children & Community Services Act (CCSA):
Aitkin County submits a Biennial Service agreement to the
Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to receive consolidated
funds. The primary purpose
of the service agreement with DHS is to achieve stated outcomes and work
toward goals of keeping children safe and improving their well-being.
The agreement provides for assessment of ongoing needs of
families and children within the agency service areas, analysis of
resources available to address these needs, budgeting of allocated
resources, and community participation and review in planning and
development of service provision.
Services
to Children and Families:
Aitkin County embraces the
federal and state initiatives to provide permanence for children.
This means designing and delivering services which will assist
families in solving their problems in the least restrictive atmosphere
possible, preferably within their home or community.
Only as a last resort is placement considered, and then it is our
goal for children to be in living arrangements that are as permanent and
stable as possible.
Programs
and Services are available for children and families in the following
areas:
Young Parents -
decision
making groups, support services
Adoption
-
home studies and
placement
Foster
Care – licensing,
referral and placement
Domestic
Violence – referrals to
community shelters and local treatment resources
Children’s
mental health case management –
assist families with assessments of
needs, access to community-based evaluation, treatment and support
resources, and coordination of multi-disciplinary services.
Family
sexual abuse –
investigation,
assessment and referrals to community-based treatment
Emergency
evening and weekend response services through 911 or law enforcement
dispatchers.
Individual
and family case management and counseling services –
by either county
social workers or by referrals to other counseling agencies in the area.
Child Protection Services -
Aitkin County staff are available 24
hours a day to receive reports of child maltreatment (abuse/neglect).
Child Protection Specialists work closely with law enforcement in
assessing the immediate risk of maltreatment to a child.
When a child is found to be in immediate danger, the child may be
placed outside of the family’s home for a brief period of time, or an
abusing parent may be ordered to leave.
The identity of a reporter
of suspected maltreatment is kept confidential.
Care is taken not to be overly intrusive while still assessing
the risk to the child, and the agency’s assessment of the family is kept
private.
To report suspected
maltreatment, please contact our office or your local law enforcement
agency.
Information
and Referral On:
Child
Foster Care, Chemical Dependency Treatment, Child Day Care, Adoption,
Investigative and Protective Services, Counseling, Family Based
Services, Licensing for Day Care and Foster Care, and Mental Health
Services.