Florida Administrative Code

(1) General. (a) Each applicant wishing to become a licensed out-of-home caregiver shall complete the following: 1. An "Application for License to Provide Out-of-Home Care for Dependent Children," CF-FSP 5007, July 2017, incorporated by reference and available at https://www.flru…

(1) Summary and Recommendations. (a) Recommendation for licensure shall describe the characteristics of children most appropriate for placement in the home. These characteristics shall include level of licensure, number of children, age, gender(s), types of behaviors, and special…

(1) Pursuant to Section 409.175(5)(a)1.b., F.S., items not related to safety can be waived for Level I licensure requirements. (2) Items deemed waived will not be required for an applicant to obtain a Level I-Child Specific License through the Department; (3) The waiving of items…

(1) Individuals applying for a Level II-Non-Child Specific Foster Home License shall meet all licensing requirements in Rule 65C-45.003, F.A.C., as well as all items identified in paragraph 65C-45.005(1)(b), F.A.C. (2) The licensing counselor shall complete one (1) additional lic…

(1) Certification of Safe Foster Homes (a) Certification Standards. The child-placing agency must submit a letter of recommendation to the Regional Licensing Authority that the licensed foster home be certified as a safe foster home. The letter of recommendation must be accompani…

(1) Individuals seeking Level IV or V Licensure, must meet all Level II licensure requirement pursuant to Rule 65C-45.003, F.A.C.; (2) The licensing counselor shall complete one (1) additional licensing home study visit to the applicant's home to inspect the entire home. Rulemaki…

(1) Law Enforcement Involvement. The licensed out-of-home caregiver shall report any household member's involvement with law enforcement over the course of the licensed year to the supervising agency within one business day of the occurrence. Law enforcement involvement includes …

(1) Requirements. (a) All licensed out-of-home caregivers shall comply with subsections 65C-28.003(1), (3), (4), 65C-28.009(2), 65C-28.018(1), and Rule 65C-28.019, F.A.C. (b) Placement capacity requirements shall comply with Section 409.175(3), F.S. (c) Each licensed out-of-home …

(1) Community-based care lead agencies and their contracted providers will provide ongoing support to licensed out-of-home caregivers. Support can include but is not be limited to: (a) Access to foster parent support groups; (b) Service resources for children placed in the home; …

(1) Requirements. (a) Relicensing procedures shall be initiated by the supervising agency and the relicensing file shall be submitted to the licensing authority at least 30 calendar days prior to expiration of the current license. However, if the attestation model is used, the re…

Individuals applying for relicensure of a Level II Non-Child Specific Foster Home shall meet all relicensing requirements in Rule 65C-45.012, F.A.C., as well as the following requirements: (1) The supervising agency shall obtain from the licensed out-of-home caregiver documentati…

Individuals applying for relicensure of a Level III Safe Foster Home for Victims of Human Trafficking shall meet all relicensing requirements in Rule 65C-45.012, F.A.C., as well as the following requirements: (1) Individuals must also be licensed as a Level II foster home; and (2…

Individuals applying for relicensure of a Level IV Therapeutic Foster Home or Level V Medical Foster Home shall meet all relicensing requirements in Rule 65C-45.012, F.A.C., as well all licensing standards required by the Agency of Health Care Administration. Rulemaking Authority…

Employees, Relatives and Sub-Contractors as Licensed Out-of-Home Caregivers. Licensing of employees of the Department, county sheriff's offices, community-based care lead agencies and their subcontracted providers or their relatives who desire to become out-of-home caregivers is …

(1) The Regional Licensing Authority shall request in writing any additional information required for the purposes of making a licensing determination within 10 business days of receipt of an application file. The Regional Licensing Authority shall grant or deny an initial licens…

(1) Licensure Capacity. (a) The supervising agency shall make a recommendation to the Department regarding licensure capacity. The Department shall issue the licensure capacity for a home based on the factors set forth in Section 409.175(3)(a), F.S. (b) Licensure capacity shall b…

(1) The licensed out-of-home caregiver is responsible for ensuring that individuals providing babysitting are suitable for the age, developmental level, and behaviors of the children. The licensed out-of-home caregiver shall use a reasonable and prudent parent standard, as define…

(1) The Regional Licensing Authority maintains responsibility for ensuring follow-up actions are taken on all foster care referrals and investigations. The supervising agency shall ensure that all licensed out-of-home caregivers are notified of foster care referrals. Licensed out…

(1) General Information. The Department is the Regional Licensing Authority for all family foster homes and has final authority to approve or deny any license. (a) The denial or revocation of a license shall be recorded in the Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN) by the Regional …

(1) "At-Risk house" means a child-caring agency providing care and support services to children and youth who are at risk of becoming sex trafficking victims. (2) "Campus" means a characteristic describing a child-caring agency that has multiple buildings, units, or cottages on t…

(1) Licensing packets for a child-caring agency shall be uploaded into the states official system of record and include the following: (a) The "License Application for Child-Caring and Child-Placing Agencies," CF-FSP 5412, Apr 2021, incorporated by reference and available at http…

(1) Statement of Purpose. The child-caring agency shall have a written statement of its purpose. The statement shall contain a description of all the services the child-caring agency provides and the methods of service delivery. The statement shall be available to the Department,…

(1) Grounds, Equipment, and Recreational Areas. (a) The grounds shall be well kept. (b) Indoor and outdoor recreation areas shall be provided with equipment and safety measures designed for the needs of the resident children according to the age, physical and mental ability of th…

(1) Inspections. Prior to the issuance of a license or to relicensing, the home or facility shall be inspected by a representative from the Department of Health trained in environmental health practices. Written approval of satisfactory health and sanitary conditions must be on f…

(1) General. (a) The child-caring agency shall have a staff member on duty trained to administer first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), at all times. (b) The child-caring agency shall ensure that a first aid kit is available to staff members in each living unit…

(1) The child-caring agency shall have and follow procedures for handling any suspected incidents of child abuse or neglect involving staff or residents. (2) The child-caring agency shall require each staff member to read and sign a statement which recites Section 39.201, F.S., a…

(1) The child-caring agency shall have written policies to involve children in community activities and services. The child-caring agency shall arrange for recreational and cultural enrichment and shall provide transportation and supervision as needed for use of community resourc…

(1) The child-caring agency shall have written policies on discipline and behavior management which shall be provided to each child, parent or guardian, child-placing agency staff, and the Department. The policies for discipline and behavior management shall emphasize positive, i…

(1) The child-caring agency shall maintain a permanent record of all resident children and document efforts to obtain the information which shall be made available to the Department upon request. The record shall include the following: (a) The name and birth date of the child; (b…

(1) Personnel Policy. (a) The child-caring agency shall have written personnel policies and practices conducive to the recruitment, retention, and effective performance of qualified personnel. These policies and practices shall include the following: 1. Written job descriptions a…

(1) The child-caring agency shall have written admission procedures which: (a) Establish admission criteria which includes the ages of the children and young adults to be served; (b) List the materials and forms required from the parent or guardian, or child-placing agency, and c…

(1) The child-caring agency shall have a written policy on discharge planning and aftercare services which shall specify the availability of services and identify the staff member or agency responsible for follow-up and implementation of the plan. (2) A child may only be discharg…

(1) General Information. The Department is the Regional Licensing Authority for all child-caring agencies and has final authority for approval, denial or suspension of any license. (a) The denial, revocation, or suspension of a license shall be recorded in the state's official sy…

Child-caring agencies contracted to provide services as an emergency shelter shall comply with the licensing requirements set forth in Rules 65C-46.001 through 65C-46.014, F.A.C., in addition to the following program standards: (1) There shall be communication access available to…

(1) Child-caring agencies who provide services as a runaway shelter shall comply with the licensing requirements set forth in Rules 65C-46.001 through 65C-46.014, F.A.C., in additon to the program standards outlined in this rule. (a) All runaway shelters shall be available for se…

(1) The child-caring agency providing services for prenatal, post-partum or parenting youth must meet the licensing requirements set forth in Rules 65C-46.001 through 65C-46.014, F.A.C., in addition to the program standards outlined in this rule. (2) Training. The child-caring ag…

(1) The child-caring agency providing 24-hour care to youth as a wilderness camp must meet the licensing requirements set forth in Rules 65C-46.001 through 65C-46.014, F.A.C., in addition to the program standards in this rule. (2) Location. (a) The location of a camp shall not pr…

(1) The child-caring agency providing services for youth who are at risk of sex trafficking must meet the licensing requirements set forth in Rules 65C-46.001 through 65C-46.014, F.A.C., in addition to the program standards outlined in this rule. (2) The child-caring agency may u…

(1) The child-caring agency providing services for commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) must meet the licensing requirements set forth Rules 65C-46.001 through 65C-46.014, F.A.C., in addition to the program requirements outlined in this rule. (2) The child-caring agenc…

(1) Entities applying for a qualified residential treatment program credenital to provide services for youth who have serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances must meet the licensing requirements set forth in Section 394.875(2), F.S., and rule Chapter 65E-9, F.A.…

(1) Each behavioral qualified residential treatment program (BQRTP) providing services for youth who have serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances must meet the licensing requirements set forth in rules 65C-46.001 through 65C-46.014, F.A.C., in addition to the pr…

(1) The child-caring agency providing services for unaccompanied minor children (UAC) must meet the licensing requirements set forth in Rules 65C-46.001 through 65C-46.014, F.A.C., in addition to the program standards in this rule. (2) The child-caring agency shall ensure a contr…

(1) The child-caring agency licensed as a traditional group home, as defined in subsection 65C-46.001(22), F.A.C., or residential group home, as defined in subsection 65C-46.001(16), F.A.C., and serving non-dependency youth must meet licensing requirements set forth in Rules 65C-…

Rulemaking Authority 409.175(5) FS. Law Implemented 409.175 FS. History-New 5-26-21, Formerly 64C-14.124, Repealed 7-27-22.

Rulemaking Authority 409.175(5) FS. Law Implemented 409.175 FS. History-New 7-6-21, Formerly 64C-14.125, Repealed 7-27-22.

(1) Child-caring agencies providing services as a physically secure shelter to children adjudicated as a child in need of services as defined in Section 984.03, F.S., shall comply with the licensing requirements set forth in Rules 65C-46.001 through 65C-46.0141, F.A.C., in additi…

Specific Authority 39.903, 39.905 FS. Law Implemented 39.905 FS. History-New 5-13-79, Amended 12-4-79, 12-13-85, Formerly 10A-8.03, Amended 6-22-87, Formerly 10A-8.003, 10M-48.002, Amended 3-12-00, Transferred to 65H-1.001.

Specific Authority 39.903, 39.905 FS. Law Implemented 39.903 FS. History-New 5-13-79, Amended 12-4-79, 11-1-83, 12-3-85, Formerly 10A-8.04, Amended 6-22-87, Formerly 10A-8.004, 10M-48.003, Amended 3-12-00, Formerly 65C-6.003, Transferred to 65H-1.002.

Specific Authority 39.903, 39.905 FS. Law Implemented 39.905 FS. History-New 5-13-79, Amended 12-4-79, 1-11-83, 12-3-85, Formerly 10A-8.05, Amended 6-22-87, Formerly 10A-8.005, 10M-48.004, Amended 3-12-00, Transferred to 65H-1.003.

Specific Authority 415.608, 120.53 FS. Law Implemented 415.601 et seq. FS. History-New 5-13-79, Amended 12-4-79, 12-3-85, Formerly 10A-8.06, 10A-8.006, 10M-48.005, Transferred to 65H-1.004.