Group Homes General non-spec:I'm interested in owning and operating a group home and was wondering about licensing and other requirements. Where would I find this information?Where can I possibly locate a list of homes that are designated as residential homes for developmentally disabled individuals? Is there anyway to know if there is a home in this neighborhood that is licensed through DCF?Does any governmental agency buy homes for use as a group home?What's the difference between an Adult Family Home, a Group Home, or Group Care Home?I'm interested in owning and operating a group home and was wondering about licensing and other requirements. Where would I find this information?* All sites other than www.doh.state.fl.us open in a new window. In general, group homes that serve children will be regulated by the Department of Children and Families. You may find licensing and contact information about them at this web site: http://www.state.fl.us/cf_web/ Group homes that serve persons with disabilities are regulated by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. You may find licensing and contact information for this agency at this web site: Certain group homes for the elderly may be licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration. You may find licensing and contact information for this agency at this web site: In addition, county health departments inspect most group homes using Chapter 64E-12, Community Based Residential Facilities, Florida Administrative Code. Kitchens in the larger facilities may be inspected using Chapter 64E-11, Food Hygiene, Florida Administrative Code. You may find a copy of this code at this location http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/64e-11.pdf (pdf <1mb, opens in new window). You should contact the county health department for the county in which you intend to locate your group home before opening it. Here is an email address for a list of the county health departments: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdsitelist.htm Where can I possibly locate a list of homes that are designated as residential homes for developmentally disabled individuals? Is there anyway to know if there is a home in this neighborhood that is licensed through DCF?The Department of Health (DOH) is not the licensing agency for group homes. A group home is a generic term used for a variety of care homes. These can be for children 19 years or less and licensed under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) if they serve disabled clients. Depending on the arrangement, some live as family units like a foster family and others can be staffed or even staffed with "house parents" (a real married couple) who play a parenting role and are paid for their roll, in addition to having additional staff support. In general, group homes that serve children will be regulated by the Department of Children and Families. You may find licensing and contact information about them at this web site: http://www.state.fl.us/cf_web/ Group homes that serve persons with disabilities are regulated by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. You may find licensing and contact information for this agency at this web site: Certain group homes for the elderly may be licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Their licensing office can be contacted by phone at 850-487-2515. You may find more licensing and contact information for this agency at this web site: http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/MCHQ/Long_Term_Care/Assisted_living/afc.shtml Does any governmental agency buy homes for use as a group home?The Department of Health (DOH) is not the licensing agency for group homes. A group home is a generic term used for a variety of care homes. These can be for children 19 years or less or mental health facilities, which are all licensed under the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) licenses group homes if they serve disabled clients. Homes serving the elderly would be regulated by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). DCF may have several group homes which they operate and staff with state employees. I would suggest contacting one or more of the licensing agencies and inquire about housing provisions for providers. In general, group homes that serve children will be regulated by the Department of Children and Families. You may find licensing and contact information about them at this web site: http://www.state.fl.us/cf_web/ Group homes that serve persons with disabilities are regulated by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. You may find licensing and contact information for this agency at this web site: Certain group homes for the elderly may be licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Their licensing office can be contacted by phone at 850-487-2515. You may find more licensing and contact information for this agency at this web site: http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/MCHQ/Long_Term_Care/Assisted_living/afc.shtml In addition, you may want to see if you qualify for Community Development Block Grant type funding, which is managed through your local community development office or neighborhood services office. Please contact local county or city government offices for additional information. What's the difference between an Adult Family Home, a Group Home, or Group Care Home?An adult family care home is licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), is limited to five residents who are disabled and the operator does live in the home as a family unit. These do not provide staffed care. A group home is a generic term used for a variety of care homes. These can be for children, 19 years or less and licensed under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or APD if they serve disabled clients. Depending on the arrangement, some live as family units like a foster family and others can be staffed or even staffed with "house parents" (a real married couple) who play a parenting role and are paid for their roll, in addition to having additional staff support. In general, group homes that serve children will be regulated by the Department of Children and Families. You may find licensing and contact information about them at this web site: http://www.state.fl.us/cf_web/ Group homes that serve persons with disabilities are regulated by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. You may find licensing and contact information for this agency at this web site: Certain group homes for the elderly may be licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Their licensing office can be contacted by phone at 850-487-2515. You may find more licensing and contact information for this agency at this web site: http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/MCHQ/Long_Term_Care/Assisted_living/afc.shtml The Department of Health (DOH) is responsible for physical plant inspections specific to environmental health and food service at certain types of facilities. For information regarding food hygiene and physical plant inspections, you can contact the local County Health Department's (CHD) environmental health section. Once you have applied for your license as one of these facilities with the appropriate licensing agency, you will have to contact the local CHD to schedule your environmental health inspections. Also, you can find related information on the department's website at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/index.html and http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/group/alf.htm |