skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina s congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Myorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Minnesota Makes Adoption a Better Option

play audio
Play

Friday, December 26, 2014   

ST. PAUL, Minn. – It's hoped that the number of Minnesota foster children who find forever homes will grow in the new year, with the implementation of what's called Northstar Care for Children.

The program streamlines the process and access by combining Adoption Assistance, Relative Custody Assistance and family foster care and focusing on permanency for children.

There also are changes to financial assistance to make adoption a better option says Minnesota Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson.

"Before there was really a financial disincentive for parents who were doing foster care to adopt those kids because they get paid less, and these are kids with a lot of needs,” she explains. “So we're really trying to do away with those financial disincentives so whenever possible we can have kids move from foster care into permanent families."

In Minnesota as of last year, there were about 11,500 children in the foster care system.

Despite efforts to find forever homes for all, in Minnesota each year there are hundreds of teens who age out of the foster care system, although Jesson notes that extended care is available to help with that often tough transition into adulthood.

"So an 18-year-old can actually choose to remain in care and have those supports through the age of 21,” she says. “But of course, we all know how 18-year-olds are. Not everyone wants to take advantage of it, but for those who do, we see a lot better outcomes."

Jesson says Minnesota also offers education and training vouchers, providing up to $5,000 a year to help current and former foster care and adoptive youth attend colleges, universities and vocational or technical programs.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
A report from the Tennessee HealthCare Campaign recommended the federal government needs to strengthen 340B drug pricing and other federal negotiation mechanisms to make needed medicines more readily available and less expensive for hospitals to purchase and administer. (Spotmatikphoto/AdobeStock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …


Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…


Nearly 13 million Americans receive health coverage through unique plans under both Medicare and Medicaid. They are known as Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Medicare and Medicaid are key sources of health coverage for many Americans and some people qualify for assistance under both programs. With lagging …

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

More than six in 10 Americans favor keeping the abortion pill mifepristone available in the U.S. as a prescription drug, while over a third are opposed, according to a Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

New research shows more than six in 10 abortions in the U.S. last year were medically induced, and U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto - D-NV - is …

Social Issues

play sound

Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …

Social Issues

play sound

Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021