Family Foster Home - Group Care Facilities

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FACILITY PROGRAMS

Who is the Licensing Agency?

There are two state agencies that license family foster homes.

Department of Children and Families (DCF) licenses family foster homes for children through privatized child-placing agencies. To obtain licensing information or program participation information, please visit their website at the following link: DCF Foster Care Program

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) also licenses foster homes for the disabled. To get APD foster home licensing information, please visit their website at the following link: (APD Website)

What does an Environmental Health physical plant/group care inspection cover?

Image of child and parents riding bicycles

Through an interagency agreement with DCF, the Department of Health inspects the physical plant of foster homes using DCF's Family Foster Care rule, Chapter 65C-13 of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC). There are no DOH state group care program license required or issued, but an inspection is completed at the request of the foster home's licensing agency.

In various foster homes, licensed by the Department of Children and Families, an environmental health inspection ensures good environmental health standards are in place at the home for children placed there. Our purpose is to prevent or minimize the risk of transmitting disease, injury, or bodily harm from environmental conditions. The list below includes all the primary areas the environmental health inspector checks for during their inspection visit.

Food Holding Temperatures
Vermin/Animal Control
Plumbing
Water Supply
Garbage and Rubbish Removal
Septic Systems

Areas Related To Disease Control and Injury Prevention Need Special Attention

Check the Refrigerator to Ensure it can Maintain a Safe Temperature
Check that toilet and bath plumbing are in working order
Check if septic system is in failure
Check garbage trash removal schedule
Check for screening on windows/doors when applicable
Water Temperature at the indoor faucet will not scald
Review water supply test results for homes on private wells

Good management practices for facility pest control and head lice information.

Information can be found at the University of Florida's web site Integrated Pest Management.

Physical Plant Inspections?

Yes - DCF Rule - 65C-13, FAC. Through an interagency agreement, Environmental Health only applies portions of section 65C-13.030 (72Kb PDF)

Frequency:	Once annually, only if an inspection request is received by the applicable licensing agency, DCF or their contracted child placement agency.
Form Used:	DH 4029 (576K PDF)