TWO HARBORS, Minn. -
A Two Harbors couple that has had a foster child care license since 2010 was notified by the Minnesota Department of Human Services in a July 6 letter that they had lost the license. The reason Kirk and Beth Schield had their license pulled is Beth spanked a child.
The spanking of a foster child is in violation of state rules, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
The Schields were issued a license to provide care for four foster children in their home on Dec. 1, 2010. The revocation was announced and posted Tuesday on the department's website, though no criminal charges were filed.
The Schields can repeal the revocation.
Kirk is pastor of Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Two Harbors, according to the Duluth News Tribune. He told the Lake County News-Chronicle on Wednesday that they will appeal and hope to have their license restored soon.
The Department of Human Services letter cited a May report to Lake County Human Services alleging that Beth Schield used corporal punishment as discipline,
A DHS investigator determined that Schield spanked a foster child on more than one occasion and that she used corporal punishment as a form of discipline although she knew it was not allowed. Beth then told Lake County that she could not be sure that she would discontinue using corporal punishment on foster children.
The letter said the Schields failed to report details of the child's behavior to the placing agency, which is required in the child's case plan.
Foster children in the Schields' care were removed after the Lake County investigation, said DHS representatives.
The letter cited Minnesota rules on placement, continued stay and discharge. Under "discipline," the rules state that foster children must not be subjected to corporal punishment, including spanking.
Spanking is banned in public schools in 30 states, including Minnesota and Wisconsin, but isn't prohibited in the home in any state.
