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The new Child Passenger Safety Law went into effect August 1, 2024. It is important that foster parents are aware of the current legal requirements and best practices.
What has changed?
Caregivers must now consider both the size and age of the child. Previously, the law stated that car seats were to be used according to manufacturer instructions. It is now much more specific:
- From birth to 2 years old, children must be rear-facing in an infant or convertible car seat.
- A child who is 2 years old AND has outgrown the rear-facing seat based on height or weight should be in a forward-facing seat with an internal harness.
- A child who is 4 years old AND has outgrown the forward-facing seat based on height or weight can ride in a belt-positioning booster seat using the lap and shoulder belt.
- A child who is 9 years old, OR who has outgrown the booster seat AND can pass the “five-step test” below can ride with the seat belt.
- Finally, children under 13 years old must sit in the back seat whenever possible.
What is the "five-step test?"
The five step test gives you the information you need to assess whether a child who is 9 years old or has outgrown a booster seat is able to travel safely with only the seat belt as a restraint.
Always use the safer option.
If a child falls into more than one of the categories above, then they must be placed in the safer restraint for them. For example, a child who has passed their second birthday but still falls within the weight requirements for their rear-facing car seat must remain rear-facing.
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As of February 2024, the MN Department of Human Services has issued a Swaddling Consent form that is required for licensed facilities, including foster homes. Foster parents should be aware that any type of swaddle, including with a blanket, is prohibited without the proper consent and authorization.
If swaddling an infant is necessary, new DHS licensing expectations require all foster parents to have consent from the bio-parent/legal custodian to swaddle. In addition, statute requires consent from specific medical professionals. Please talk with your licensing worker and the child’s placing worker for more information.
Swaddling requirements
'Swaddling' is a term used for wrapping an infant snugly. Swaddling may be beneficial to use for withdrawal symptoms in particular.
A swaddle is a one-piece sleepwear, used when an infant is put down to sleep in a crib on their back, that:
- Wraps over the infant’s arms and fastens securely only across the upper torso with no constriction of the hips or legs
- Is not so tight that it restricts the infant’s ability to breathe, or so loose that the fabric could cover the infant’s nose or mouth
- Does not have weighted materials, a hood or a bib
To complete a Swaddling Consent form or for further questions, contact your licensing worker.
For more information, read the full text of MN Statute 245A.1435.
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Submitting an online invoice is the preferred option for monthly foster care payments. You can now also sign up for direct deposit to receive your payments faster!
Online payment is fast, convenient and secure
Links to submit an online invoice and enroll in direct deposit are also located on the foster parent webpage at hennepin.us/fosterparents under "Forms."
Tips for completing the forms
- Foster parents are identified by a 5-digit Provider ID number that can be found on your voucher.
- Fill out the form fields, then select the "Private” option and and "No" for billing MA (Medical Assistance).
- After entering your information, enter the information and placement dates for each child during the previous month. To add additional children, click the “Add a Child” button.
- Once you have entered all information for each child and placement, click “Next.”
- Verify and submit your invoice/voucher.
- Vouchers (either online or mailed) cannot be accepted before the first of the month.
You will receive a confirmation email and the payment should be made within 10 days. You can track the progress of your payment through the online invoicing tracker. If you have not yet tried using this system, we encourage you to give it a chance, and hopefully save yourself time in the process!
If you mail the voucher back to Hennepin County, follow the instructions on the voucher.
If you have questions, you can reach out to the Hennepin County accounting department directly to open a support ticket – you will need to have your Provider ID number. Call 612-348-3445 or email HSPH.FIN.Payables@hennepin.us.
If you are caring for children placed by another county, please contact that county regarding payments. Respite reimbursement cannot be submitted online, however, respite reimbursement can be paid via direct deposit if you are already enrolled.
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Children need fruits and vegetables daily for healthy bodies. What we eat at a young age can also affect how we eat as we get older. This is why it's so important to introduce young children to healthy foods including different fruits and vegetables. To help children grow strong, include fruit and vegetables with their meals and snacks. Fresh, frozen, or canned options are all okay. With canned vegetables, look for products with low salt. With canned or frozen fruits, look for no added sugar.
Have healthy snacks ready to go when you prepare and store fruit and vegetables in single-serving containers. How food is made can make fruits and vegetables even healthier. For example, rather than serving children a cereal bar containing fruit, offer them a few slices of whole fruit with unsweetened granola. Another example is to change from fried vegetables to roasted vegetables. Serve a rainbow of colors, such as strawberries, blueberries, and oranges for fruits or carrots, pea pods, and beets for vegetables.
By using a rainbow as a guide, you can be sure that children in your care are getting the vitamins and minerals they need to be healthy.
If you have questions about the health of a child in your care, be sure to reach out to their clinic.
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Questions? Call or email us today!
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We can help! The Child and Teen Checkups staff are experienced in finding medical and dental clinics. We can help schedule appointments and set up transportation or interpreters when needed.
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As foster parents, you know that most children in foster care return home to their families. Some are adopted by relatives or by their foster parents.
When these options aren’t possible, kids need loving and supportive adoptive families. Many waiting children in Hennepin County are school-age or teens, or part of a sibling group. Help us spread the word and find permanent families for these youth. We are in need of loving families, like yours, who are willing to be a mentor, respite provider, foster family, or adoptive resource for these youth.
Meet Amijah
Amijah is a teenager with a bubbly personality and a positive outlook on life. She is determined to succeed and is a joy to be around. Amijah's kindness and sense of humor are just a couple of her standout qualities. She is very creative and likes to draw, dance, and sing. She also enjoys watching TV and playing board games.
"Amijah is a soft-spoken teen when you first meet her. She is kindhearted and goal oriented. Amijah is excited to start working and is in the process of looking for employment. Amijah is a young person who knows what she wants and is taking steps to reach her goals." - Amijah's adoption worker, Sarah.
"Amijah is a kind and caring teenager who always has a smile on her face. She engages well with those around her and is a joy to be around. She has a great sense of humor and is motivated to take the steps to succeed in life." - Amijah's child-specific recruiter, Hayley.
Please reach out to foster.adopt@hennepin.us if you are interested in learning more about Amijah!
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Once you have read the Essentials, take the Essentials quiz to earn one hour of training credit. We will forward the quiz to your worker once we have received it.
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