Otter Tail County seeks foster parents as child placements grow
Otter Tail County said more children need placements now, and one licensed home can keep a child closer to school, siblings and familiar routines.
Otter Tail County said it needs more foster parents now, especially families willing to care for teenagers, as the number of children needing placements continues to grow. When a local home is not available, a child may have to be placed farther from school, siblings and other familiar supports, which makes every additional foster family a local capacity issue with immediate consequences.
Stephanie Olson, a Children and Families Unit supervisor, said the county tries to place children with relatives whenever possible and that family restoration is the ultimate goal. When that is not possible, she said, the community has to step in with temporary homes that can keep a child safe while workers focus on the next step.
Jody Dahlen, the county’s Child Foster Care Licensor, said there are children in the community who need a safe and loving place to stay and that foster parents can make a real difference in a child’s life. The county says the need spans every age, from infants to teenagers, and that children in foster care may need emotional, medical and educational support while their immediate safety is addressed.
Otter Tail County Human Services licenses foster homes, and the county says prospective parents do not have to fit one mold. People may be single, married, cohabiting or divorced. They may own or rent, and they may already have children or be first-time parents. Foster placements can last from overnight to several months, depending on the child’s needs.
The county also says social workers guide families through licensing, training and resources. Foster parents receive a monthly stipend based on the needs of the child, and daycare-related help may be available. Support groups meet monthly in Perham and Fergus Falls, and OTC Foster Closet can provide supplies such as clothing, toys and bedding.
The local push comes as Minnesota continues to rely heavily on kinship care. State data show about 9,880 children and youth spent at least one day in out-of-home care in 2024, while the average number in care on any given day fell 31% from 8,499 in 2020 to about 5,865 in 2024. In 2024, 66% of children in family foster care were placed with relatives, 58% of those who left out-of-home placement reunited with parents, and 24% achieved permanency with relatives.
Otter Tail County also has an outreach toolkit with graphics and other materials for organizations, websites, social media and community events. Residents interested in learning more can call 218-998-8150. The county’s message is simple: foster care is not an abstract need in Fergus Falls, Perham, Battle Lake or New York Mills, but a local call for homes that can keep children close while their families work toward reunification.
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