The Children’s Services Unit provides the following services:

• Intake and Referral: 

  Intake is the receiving of calls from the general public seeking information or services.  Individuals needing agency services will meet with an Intake Social Worker to complete an application for services.  Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult Reporting are handled through the Intake Social Worker.

• Child Protection Assessment: 

  Child Protection Assessments are conducted in response to reports of children being neglected or abused by caregivers.  Approximately 200 child protection assessments are conducted each year by agency social workers.  Assessments are coordinated with Sheriff’s Department investigations.

• Child Protection Case Management: 

  Child Protection Case Management services are offered to families who have had a determination, based upon a child protection risk assessment, that “protective services are needed.”  The case management social worker works with the family to develop a service plan to reduce the risk of abuse or neglect.

• Adoption of Special Needs Children:  

  As an agent of the Minnesota department of Human Services, Steele County Human Services provides adoptive placement services to children who are wards of the state.  Home studies are conducted for county families wishing to adopt special needs children.  The state Adoption Exchange is utilized to locate adoptive families for state wards.

• Foster Care Licensing: 

  There are approximately twenty-five foster homes licensed by Steele County Human Services.  Local foster homes are an integral part of the continuum of community-based services.  Foster care homes may provide emergency placement services and respite care in addition to traditional foster care services.  The agency seeks to add more qualified providers into its foster care program.  In particular, there are needs to license more:  (1) foster families from various ethnic and racial minority backgrounds and (2) foster families willing to work with adolescents.

• Day Care Licensing: 

  Steele County Human Services is responsible for licensing and monitoring approximately 190 day care homes.  There is a need to expand child care availability to meet the needs of second and third shift employees.  There is also a need for more licensed providers from various ethnic and racial minority backgrounds.

  • Forms
    • Parent directive form to change infant sleeping position.
    • Physician's Report
    • Monthly Crib safety Inspection Form
    • Licensing Checklist & Enrollment Form
    • Licensing Application
      • Fees for Child Care Providers
    • Fire and Tornado Drill Log
      • Fire Safety Form
    • Parental Evaluation of Day Care Provider
    • Self Study Questionaire
    • Authorization for Background Study 
    • Wading Pool Letter and Permission Form 
      • Fact Sheet:  Risks of Wading Pools at a Child Care Home 
    • Swimming Pool Letter and Permission Form 
      • Fact Sheet:  Risks of Swimming Pools at a Child Care Home
    • Policies and Procedures
    • Home Safety Checklist
  • Rules and Regulations
    • Department of Human Services - Licensing Rule 2
    • Minnesota Statute 245A-For Daycare Licensing 
  • Training Opportunities and Requirements
    • Training requirements for Applicants, subs and helpers 
    • Shaken Baby Syndrome Annual Training Video Link:
      Please click on the link above.  Scroll through the topic options and select Shaken Baby Syndrome.  Then select the appropriate language you would like to view the video.  After viewing the video, please complete the following form and submit to the Steele County Human Services.
      Shaken Baby Syndrome Video Acknowledgement
    • Child Car Seat Safety


• Children’s Mental Health Case Management:  

Case Management services are available to children experiencing severe emotional disturbance.  This service helps families identify and coordinate mental health services for children and their families.  Case management services are provided through a cooperative agreement between Steele County Human Services and the South Central Human Relations Center, a community mental health center.