Licensing Agency or Facility Locator?
There are several different state agencies that license various
community based residential facilities or
group homes.
The Agency for Health Care Administration
(AHCA) is the agency that licenses group homes for adults
and the elderly. AHCA licensing information for group homes can be found at the following link
(AFCH Licensing
 ). For facility locations, please visit AHCA's facility locator webpage at
AHCA Facility Locator
The Department of Children and Families (DCF)
licenses
various residential group homes for children up to age 19
years. For licensing information
and facility location information, please visit their
website at the following link:
DCF Group Home Licensing
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities
(APD) also licenses group homes for the disabled. For APD
facility licensing information and APD facility location
information, please visit their website at the following
link: (APD Website
).
What does an Environmental Health physical plant/group care inspection cover?
The Department of Health inspects the physical
plant of these facilities using our community based
residential facility rule, Chapter 64E-12 of the Florida
Administrative Code (FAC), as a community based
residential facility in the group care program. There
is no DOH state group care program license required or
issued, but an inspection is required annually. However,
in about half of Florida's counties a local county health
department permit or fee is assessed through a local
county/city ordinance or fee resolution. Check with your
local county health department for questions related to
county fees or county permit requirements pertaining to
the group care program inspection.
In various group care facilities, such as a community
base residential facility or group home, an
environmental health inspection ensures good sanitary
health and safety practices are in place related to
construction, operation, and maintenance among the
residents, employees, and visitors to the facility. Our
purpose is to prevent or minimize the risk of
transmitting disease, injury, or bodily harm. The list
below includes some of the primary areas the
environmental health inspector checks for during their
inspection visit.
- House Keeping
- Lighting
- Vermin/Animal Control
- Bed/Bedding
- Water Supply
- Liquid & Solid Waste
- Housing
- Sanitary Facilities and Diaper Changing
- Outdoor Area & Equipment
- Indoor equipment/furnishings
Areas Related To Disease Control Need Special Attention
- Food Hygiene & Sanitation
- Sanitary bedding
- Solid Waste/garbage
- Sanitary Facilities (Restrooms & Bathing Facilities)
- Repair and Upkeep
- Safe Outdoor Recreational Area
- Vector and Vermin Control
- Water Temperature
The inspector will look
throughout the facility to ensure it is being properly maintained. Here is a
picture of a hole where vermin were entering into the kitchen cupboards.Good management practices for facility pest control and head lice information.
Information is found at the University of Florida's
Integrated Pest Management
website.Physical Plant Inspection Rule, Frequency, and DOH Inspection Forms?
Yes - DOH Rules - 64E-12, F.A.C. (17K PDF)
Food Inspections?
The level of food hygiene standards that
apply to the kitchen depend on the maximum
number of residents the facility is approved to house.
10 or fewer beds:
DOH Rules -
64E-12, F.A.C. (17K PDF)
| Frequency: |
Once per year as part of physical plant inspection. |
| Form Used: |
DH
4029 (576K PDF) |
11 or more beds must
apply for and obtain a food hygiene permit:
A state DOH food permit is required when
a facility serves food and has a maximum capacity of 11
residents or more. Prior to opening or operating,
a set of plans drawn to scale and a completed food
hygiene permit application must be submitted to the
local county health department for a food hygiene
plan review. There is a fee associated with the required plan
review. To apply for a food hygiene permit,
please go to the food hygiene website
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/default.html
or contact your
local county health department's
environmental health section.
DOH Rules -
64E-11, F.A.C. (164K PDF)
| Frequency: |
Once per quarter or as determined by the level
of good service. |
| Form Used: |
DH 4023 (649K PDF)
|
Facilities:
|
