Supports and Services for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care - Minnesota

Date: October 2025

Youth's Parental Rights

This issue is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.

Placement Options
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 245A.25

A pregnant or parenting youth in need of out-of-home care may be placed in a residential setting that is certified as specializing in providing prenatal, postpartum, or parenting supports for youth. The license holder must collaborate with the responsible social services agency and other appropriate parties to implement each youth's out-of-home placement plan, as required by § 260C.212, subdivision 1.

Health Services 
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 245A.25

The residential care license holder must assist each youth with accessing postpartum services during the same time that a woman is considered pregnant for the purposes of medical assistance eligibility under § 256B.055, subdivision 6, including providing each youth youth with the following:

  • Sexual and reproductive health services and education
  • A postpartum mental health assessment and follow-up services

Parent Preparation for Expectant Youth
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 245A.25

On or before the date of a child's initial physical presence at the facility, the license holder must provide education to the child's parent related to safe bathing and reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma from shaking infants and young children. The license holder must use the educational material developed by the commissioner of human services to comply with this requirement. At a minimum, the education must address the following:

  • Instruction on the following:
    • A child or infant should never be left unattended around water.
    • A tub should be filled with only 2 to 4 inches of water for infants.
    • An infant should never be put into a tub when the water is running.
  • The risk factors related to sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma from shaking infants and young children and means of reducing the risks, including the safety precautions identified in § 142B.46 and the risks of cosleeping

Education and Services to Support Parenting Youth

The issue of assisting parenting youth in finishing high school is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed. For information on assisting youth in foster care complete high school, see Educational Supports for Youth in Foster Care - Minnesota | Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Economic and Concrete Supports

This issue is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.

Services and Supports for Parenting Youth That Promote Self-Sufficiency

This issue is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.

Foster Care Prevention Strategy for any Child Born to the Youth
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 245A.25

On or before the date of a child's initial physical presence at the facility, the license holder must document the parent's capacity to meet the health and safety needs of the child while on the facility premises. The license holder must consider the following factors:

  • The parent's physical and mental health
  • Whether the parent is under the influence of drugs, alcohol, medications, or other chemicals
  • The child's physical and mental health
  • Any other information available to the license holder that indicates the parent may not be able to adequately care for the child

The license holder must have written procedures specifying the actions that staff shall take if a parent is or becomes unable to adequately care for the parent's child. If the parent refuses or is unable to adequately care for the child, the license holder must develop a parental supervision plan in conjunction with the parent. The plan must account for any factors that contribute to the parent's inability to adequately care for the child.