Adult foster care

Adult foster care provides residential care for people age 18 and over who need supportive housing and services due to physical, emotional, developmental or mental health reasons.

Providers of adult foster care are responsible for residents' food, lodging, protection, supervision and household services. Providers must be licensed.

The county evaluates prospective homes and recommends licenses for those that meet state standards, monitors providers for compliance, and supports quality foster homes for adults.

License types and prospective providers

Licenses fall into two categories:

• Community residential settings
• Adult foster care

Community residential setting

A licensed residential setting that serves adults and where the license holder does not reside. This setting typically uses a shift-staff model of support. In this type of setting, at least one person receives community residential services funded by a home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program.

The State of Minnesota has a moratorium on new community residential settings and has capped the number of homes allowed.

Learn more about the moratorium and related processes.

Adult foster care

Adult foster care (AFC) can be provided in a family setting or corporate setting.

• Family settings are those in which the license holder resides in the setting and serves as the primary caregiver.
• Corporate settings are those in which the license holder does not reside and care and support is provided through a shift-staff model.

Note: Hennepin County is not currently in need of additional AFC sites and is only accepting applications for new adult foster care providers in very specific circumstances.

For more information, contact familyadultfostercare@hennepin.us.

New corporate development

The state of Minnesota has imposed a moratorium on the growth of corporate foster care. The moratorium created a statewide cap on beds and created a process that allows for new corporate adult foster care homes for individuals who meet specific eligibility criteria.

More information on the statewide moratorium and exceptions.

Referrals for new corporate development must be submitted by case management. For more information about the moratorium exception and referral process for new corporate development in Hennepin County, contact daniel.scheller@hennepin.us.

More about license types and requirements

• Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 245A (Human Services Licensing Act)
• Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 245C (Human Services Background Studies Act)
• Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5050 to 9555.6265 (Rule 203)
• Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 245D (Home and Community-Based Services Standards)

How to find vacancies

To search for housing vacancies, visit HB101 Places.

For information on licensed community residential settings and adult foster care homes, visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services Licensing Information Lookup.

Concerns or complaints

Hennepin County seeks input on how community residential settings (CRS) and adult foster care (AFC) homes are performing and can assist with complaints and concerns.

Abuse or neglect

If you witness or suspect abuse or neglect of a resident of a licensed CRS or AFC home in Hennepin County:

• Call the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center at 1-844-880-1574

Other concerns

If you are concerned about something other than mistreatment:

• Call Hennepin County at 612-348-2816
• Be prepared to give the address of the home and the name of the person who operates the home, if known.