Kandiyohi County approves Healthy Kids Minnesota joint powers agreement to test children's exposure to chemicals

Public health manager Jody Ammerman told the county board that Kandiyohi County may join the Minnesota Department of Health's Healthy Kids Minnesota program under a joint powers agreement and budget that is fully funded by MDH and capped at $13,954.53. The program aims to better understand children’s exposure to chemicals that may harm development.

Ammerman described the outreach and consent process: school districts in the region will receive separate joint powers agreements; the Wilmer School District is participating and will include the study as part of early childhood screening days. Parents will receive advance letters; if interested, they will complete a survey and consent form, and then collect a urine sample in private with the child and the parent providing the sample to the nurse. Participants receive a $40 gift card and a free well-test kit; Ammerman said the region will receive results within a year and that parents would be notified sooner if concerning results were found.

Commissioners asked about timelines and communication; Ammerman said the MDH expects to issue regional results within a year and will notify families promptly about concerning findings. The board approved the joint powers agreement.