How to Become a Foster Parent in Florida

Description

Foster care in Florida provides temporary, safe, stable, and family-based care for children who cannot safely remain with their parents. Reunification is generally the initial permanency goal whenever it can be achieved safely. Foster parents provide daily care, supervision, advocacy, transportation, educational support, healthcare coordination, normal childhood experiences, and emotional stability while working with the child's parents, siblings, relatives, case manager, guardian ad litem, court, school, healthcare providers, Community-Based Care agency, and other members of the child's team.

Agency

The Florida Department of Children and Families, commonly called DCF, establishes statewide foster-home licensing standards and oversees the child-welfare system. Florida delivers foster care and related services through regional Community-Based Care lead agencies and their contracted case-management and child-placing agencies. These local organizations recruit, train, assess, support, and supervise foster families and prepare licensing recommendations for DCF.

Who Can Apply

Adults who are at least 21 years old may apply to become foster parents. Applicants may be single, married, divorced, widowed, or partnered and may rent or own their home. They must demonstrate good physical and mental health, adequate income to meet existing household expenses, sufficient sleeping space, reliable transportation, stable relationships, safe parenting and discipline practices, and the ability to work cooperatively with children, parents, relatives, agencies, courts, schools, and service providers.

Average Time To License

No single completion period applies statewide. The licensing process includes initial inquiry and screening, orientation, at least 21 hours of preservice training, submission of the foster-home application and supporting forms, references, health and financial documentation, Level II background screening, interviews with household members, a Unified Home Study, and inspection of the indoor and outdoor premises. Additional reviews, exemptions, out-of-state checks, home repairs, or missing documents can extend the process.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

A Florida foster-parent applicant must be at least 21 years old. The supervising agency also evaluates maturity, judgment, emotional stability, caregiving capacity, relationship stability, support systems, and readiness to care for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, grief, separation, and loss.

Residency

Applicants generally work with the Community-Based Care lead agency or contracted child-placing agency serving the area where they live. The residence must be located where the supervising agency can conduct the Unified Home Study, inspect the premises, provide ongoing supervision, and complete annual relicensing activities. Applicants who lived outside Florida during the preceding five years may be required to obtain child-abuse and neglect history checks from each applicable state.

Marital Status

Florida permits qualified single adults, married couples, and unmarried partners to foster. When two adults live together in a caretaking role, both generally must sign the foster-home application and participate in training, interviews, background screening, the Unified Home Study, and the licensing process. The supervising agency evaluates the stability of the relationship and each adult's commitment to fostering.

Income Requirements

Applicants must have adequate income to meet their existing household expenses without depending on foster-care maintenance payments. The Unified Home Study reviews household income, employment, expenses, debts, insurance, financial obligations, and the family's ability to manage the additional responsibilities associated with caring for a child. Foster-care payments are intended to reimburse child-related expenses rather than serve as the household's primary income.

Home Ownership

Applicants are not required to own their residence. A rented or owned house, apartment, condominium, manufactured home, or other suitable dwelling may qualify if it provides adequate space, utilities, sanitation, sleeping arrangements, emergency exits, and safety. Renters may need to provide landlord information or confirm that the lease and occupancy rules permit the intended household arrangement.

Bedroom Requirements

The home must provide adequate and appropriate sleeping space for every household member and child placed there. Each foster child must have a safe bed, suitable bedding, reasonable privacy, and space for clothing and personal belongings. Bedroom sharing is evaluated according to the children's ages, sex, gender identity, sibling relationships, development, behavior, trauma history, supervision needs, and individual circumstances. The supervising agency determines the home's licensed capacity and whether each sleeping arrangement is safe and appropriate.

Transportation

A licensed foster family must have transportation available 24 hours a day. Vehicles used to transport foster children must be safely maintained and equipped with a seat belt for each passenger and age-appropriate child restraints required by Florida law. Foster parents may not knowingly transport children in an uninsured vehicle. Vehicles must remain free from smoking, electronic-cigarette use, and vapor smoke while children are being transported.

Health Requirements

Applicants must be in sufficiently good physical, mental, and emotional health to provide safe and consistent care. The Unified Home Study reviews current and previous medical or mental-health conditions, prescribed medications, substance-use history, treatment history, physical limitations, and any circumstances that could affect supervision or caregiving. The supervising agency may require medical statements, professional evaluations, treatment information, or safety plans when a condition could affect children placed in the home.

Pet Policy

Pets, exotic animals, livestock, and other animals are permitted when they can be maintained safely around children. The Unified Home Study documents the type, care, behavior, maintenance, and safety plan for each animal. Applicants must provide proof of required vaccinations and establish safeguards for animals that could pose a danger. Additional confinement, supervision, a written safety plan, or removal may be required when an animal creates a foreseeable risk.

Firearm Policy

Firearms, ammunition, hunting equipment, and other weapons must be stored securely and made inaccessible to children. Firearms must generally be unloaded and locked, and ammunition must be secured separately unless another arrangement is specifically approved and legally permitted. Keys, combinations, and access devices must remain under the control of a responsible adult. The supervising agency verifies the storage arrangement during the home inspection and Unified Home Study.

Contact Agency

Call the Florida Foster Information Center at 1-833-678-3735, also presented as 1-833-FosterFL, or submit the state's online foster-care inquiry form. A foster community ambassador can connect the applicant with the Community-Based Care lead agency or local foster-care recruiter serving the applicant's residence.

Attend Orientation

Attend the orientation or information session offered by the local Community-Based Care lead agency or contracted child-placing agency. Orientation explains Florida's foster-care system, the levels of foster-home licensure, reunification and permanency, current placement needs, training, background screening, the Unified Home Study, home inspection, reimbursement, support services, and the responsibilities of working with children and their families.

Choose Agency

Applicants generally pursue licensure through the Community-Based Care lead agency or contracted child-placing agency serving their local area. Florida also licenses child-placing agencies that may operate therapeutic, medical, human-trafficking, faith-based, or other specialized foster-care programs. Applicants should compare placement populations, training expectations, support, respite, supervision, reimbursement administration, and geographic service areas before selecting an agency.

Documents Needed

• Completed Application for License to Provide Out-of-Home Care for Dependent Children
• Signed Release of Information form
• Signed Partnership Plan for Children in Out-of-Home Care
• Signed Confidentiality Agreement
• Government-issued identification and identity information for each applicant
• Social Security information required for verification
• Information about every adult and child residing in the household
• Information about applicants' nonresident children
• Information about children currently placed in the home or who left the home during the previous year
• Fingerprint submissions for applicants and covered adult household members
• Authorization for Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FBI criminal-history checks
• Authorization for local law-enforcement record checks
• Authorization for civil-court and domestic-violence record checks
• Authorization for Florida abuse-registry and child-welfare history checks
• Sex-offender and sexual-predator registry checks
• Out-of-state child-abuse and neglect checks when applicable
• Department of Juvenile Justice and Florida Abuse Hotline screening for household children ages 12 through 17
• Residential-address history
• Names and contact information for personal references
• Health statements or medical documentation requested for applicants and household members
• Information concerning physical health, mental health, medications, substance use, and treatment history
• Proof of income and financial resources
• Employment and work-schedule information
• Marriage, divorce, separation, domestic-partnership, or relationship information when applicable
• Housing, rental, lease, landlord, mortgage, or property information when requested
• Driver's-license information for adults who may transport children
• Vehicle-registration and automobile-insurance documentation
• Childcare and supervision plan
• Information identifying respite providers, backup caregivers, and emergency support persons
• Emergency, evacuation, hurricane, severe-weather, and disaster-preparedness plans
• Pet vaccination records and animal-safety information
• Information concerning firearms, ammunition, weapons, swimming pools, spas, ponds, canals, and other household hazards
• Information about prior foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or caregiving applications and licenses
• Documentation concerning prior child-welfare investigations, abuse findings, criminal charges, convictions, domestic-violence matters, or protective orders when applicable
• Preservice-training completion documentation
• CPR and First Aid certification when required by the supervising agency or placement program
• Any additional records, explanations, exemptions, evaluations, or safety plans requested during the Unified Home Study

Required

Yes

Description

Prospective foster parents complete an orientation provided by the local Community-Based Care lead agency or supervising child-placing agency. Orientation introduces Florida's child-welfare system, foster-home licensing levels, children commonly needing placement, the effects of trauma and separation, reunification, permanency, birth-family partnerships, sibling relationships, cultural identity, confidentiality, discipline restrictions, normalcy, the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard, training, background screening, home-study requirements, and caregiver support.

How To Register

Call 1-833-FosterFL, submit the Florida Foster Information Center's online inquiry form, or contact the Community-Based Care lead agency serving your county. A foster community ambassador or local recruiter will provide orientation dates, registration instructions, preliminary eligibility information, and the schedule for approved preservice training.

Duration

Orientation length and format vary by local agency. Some agencies offer a single information session lasting approximately two to three hours, while others divide orientation across multiple meetings or incorporate it into the beginning of the preservice curriculum. Sessions may be offered in person, virtually, or through a hybrid format.

Application Process

Applicants submit the Application for License to Provide Out-of-Home Care for Dependent Children and all required supporting forms to the supervising child-placing agency. Adults living together in a caretaking role generally both sign the application. The agency obtains release forms, background screenings, references, financial and health information, transportation documentation, and other required records. A certified child-welfare professional completes the Unified Home Study, which includes at least one visit to the home, inspection of the entire indoor and outdoor premises, and face-to-face interviews with all household members. After training, screening, assessment, and home-safety requirements are satisfied, the supervising agency submits a licensing recommendation or attestation to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Required Documents

• Completed Application for License to Provide Out-of-Home Care for Dependent Children
• Signed Release of Information form
• Signed Partnership Plan for Children in Out-of-Home Care
• Signed Confidentiality Agreement
• Identification and personal-history information for each applicant
• Verification of Social Security information
• Information identifying every adult and child residing in the home
• Information concerning applicants' biological, adopted, guardianship, step, and nonresident children
• Information about children currently placed in the residence and children who exited during the previous year
• Fingerprint-based FDLE and FBI criminal-history submissions
• Local law-enforcement record authorizations
• Civil-court and domestic-violence record authorizations
• Florida child-welfare and abuse-registry check authorizations
• Sex-offender and sexual-predator registry checks
• Out-of-state abuse and neglect history checks when applicable
• Department of Juvenile Justice and Florida Abuse Hotline checks for household youth ages 12 through 17
• Residential-address history
• Personal-reference information
• Health and medical statements requested for applicants and household members
• Mental-health, medication, substance-use, treatment, or functional information when applicable
• Proof of employment, income, assets, expenses, and household financial stability
• Marriage, divorce, separation, domestic-partnership, or relationship-history information when applicable
• Housing, lease, rental, landlord, mortgage, or property information when requested
• Driver's-license information for adults who may transport children
• Vehicle-registration and automobile-insurance documentation
• Childcare, transportation, supervision, and backup-caregiver plans
• Emergency, evacuation, hurricane, fire, severe-weather, and disaster plans
• Pet vaccination records and animal-management information
• Information concerning firearms, ammunition, weapons, pools, spas, ponds, canals, boats, and other potential hazards
• Information about prior foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or caregiving applications and licenses
• Documentation concerning previous child-welfare reports, abuse findings, criminal charges, convictions, domestic violence, protective orders, or other legal matters when applicable
• Documentation showing completion of at least 21 hours of approved preservice training
• CPR, First Aid, water-safety, medication, infant-care, or specialized-training certificates when required
• Any additional records, professional evaluations, exemptions, written explanations, or safety plans requested by the supervising agency or DCF

References Required

Applicants must provide personal references in the number and format required by the supervising Community-Based Care or child-placing agency. References should know the applicants well enough to discuss their character, reliability, emotional stability, judgment, relationships, parenting or caregiving ability, ability to manage stress, and suitability to foster. The agency may contact references through written questionnaires, telephone calls, virtual meetings, or personal interviews and may request additional references when necessary.

Interview Process

The Unified Home Study includes face-to-face interviews with all household members and may include individual and joint interviews with applicants, children, adult household members, nonresident children, former spouses or partners, references, backup caregivers, healthcare providers, therapists, or others whose information is relevant. Topics include motivation to foster, family history, relationships, parenting experience, discipline, trauma awareness, cultural and religious responsiveness, support for reunification, willingness to work with parents and relatives, health, mental health, substance-use history, finances, employment, childcare, transportation, support systems, criminal and child-welfare history, placement preferences, and the family's ability to safely meet children's physical, emotional, educational, cultural, and permanency needs.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Florida requires prospective foster parents to complete at least 21 hours of Department-approved preservice training before licensure as a Level II Non-Child Specific Foster Home. The curriculum prepares applicants to understand Florida's child-welfare system, abuse and neglect, trauma-informed parenting, attachment, grief and loss, child and adolescent development, positive discipline, behavior management, educational advocacy, confidentiality, cultural competency, reunification, permanency planning, normalcy, the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard, medication responsibilities, mandated reporting, and collaboration with birth families, Community-Based Care agencies, schools, healthcare providers, courts, and other members of the child's multidisciplinary team.

Required Hours

Applicants must successfully complete at least 21 hours of approved preservice training before licensure. Licensed foster parents must complete at least 8 hours of continuing education annually. Additional specialized training may be required for therapeutic foster care, Enhanced Foster Care, medically complex children, developmental disabilities, infants, adolescents, human trafficking victims, or other specialized placement programs.

Online Available

Yes. Many Community-Based Care lead agencies offer preservice training through virtual, hybrid, or in-person formats depending upon local scheduling and program availability. Certain portions of the licensing process, including home inspections, interviews, and portions of the Unified Home Study, must still be completed in person.

Certification

Some Community-Based Care lead agencies require foster parents to maintain CPR and First Aid certification. Additional certifications or specialized instruction may be required for medication administration, water safety, infant care, de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed intervention, medically fragile children, behavioral stabilization, developmental disabilities, or Enhanced Foster Care placements.

Required

Yes

Interviews

Florida requires completion of a Unified Home Study before foster-home licensure. A certified child welfare professional conducts individual and joint interviews with applicants and interviews every household member. Age-appropriate interviews are conducted with household children. The assessment evaluates motivation, parenting philosophy, family relationships, communication, emotional stability, physical and mental health, discipline practices, financial stability, trauma awareness, support systems, cultural competency, and the family's ability to safely meet the needs of children in foster care.

Home Visits

The licensing specialist conducts one or more visits to the residence during the Unified Home Study. The visits include inspection of bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor areas, emergency exits, utilities, medication storage, hazardous materials, firearms, pools, pets, transportation resources, and other environmental safety concerns. Additional visits may occur to verify repairs, review documentation, complete interviews, or confirm correction of licensing deficiencies before licensure.

Topics Covered

• Applicants' motivation for becoming foster parents
• Understanding that reunification is generally the primary permanency goal
• Ability to support visitation and healthy relationships with birth families
• Ability to work cooperatively with Community-Based Care agencies, case managers, Guardian ad Litem volunteers, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, courts, and service providers
• Family history and childhood experiences
• Current family relationships and household functioning
• Marital, partner, or relationship stability
• Impact of fostering on biological, adopted, guardianship, stepchildren, and other household members
• Parenting philosophy and caregiving experience
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development
• Understanding trauma, abuse, neglect, attachment, grief, separation, and loss
• Positive discipline practices and prohibited discipline methods
• Ability to recognize behaviors related to trauma
• Ability to provide nurturing care, supervision, structure, and healthy boundaries
• Physical health and caregiving stamina
• Mental and emotional health
• Medication use when relevant to caregiving
• Alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, marijuana, controlled-substance, and other substance-use history
• Domestic violence, relationship violence, or household safety concerns
• Criminal-history and child-welfare background information
• Financial stability and budgeting
• Employment schedules and childcare arrangements
• Transportation resources
• Emergency preparedness, fire safety, and hurricane preparedness
• Family, church, community, and professional support systems
• Cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, disability, sexual-orientation, gender-identity, and gender-expression awareness
• Protection of confidential information
• Household members' expectations regarding foster care
• Pets, firearms, pools, water hazards, smoking, vaping, marijuana, and other environmental risks
• Bedroom arrangements, privacy, storage, and licensed household capacity
• Placement preferences concerning children's ages, sibling groups, medical conditions, developmental disabilities, behavioral needs, and specialized placements
• The family's strengths, limitations, support needs, and continuing education needs
• Ability to maintain required documentation and cooperate with annual relicensing and agency supervision

Timeline

Florida does not establish one guaranteed statewide Unified Home Study timeline. Completion depends upon scheduling interviews, receiving references and medical documentation, completing background screening, conducting home inspections, correcting safety concerns, and the workload of the supervising Community-Based Care lead agency or child-placing agency.

Bedroom Rules

The home must provide adequate, safe sleeping arrangements for every child. Each foster child must have an individual bed with an appropriate mattress and bedding and sufficient space for clothing and personal belongings. Bedrooms must provide reasonable privacy, proper lighting, ventilation, emergency exits, and safe access. Sleeping arrangements are evaluated according to each child's age, developmental needs, sex, gender identity, sibling relationships, behavior, trauma history, and supervision needs. Foster children may not routinely sleep in unfinished garages, sheds, hallways, living rooms, or other inappropriate living spaces.

Smoke Detectors

Working smoke detectors must be installed and maintained throughout the residence as required by Florida law and local fire codes. Carbon monoxide detectors must be installed where required. The licensing specialist verifies that required detectors are operational during the home inspection.

Fire Extinguisher

The home must maintain appropriate fire-safety equipment and emergency evacuation procedures. Fire extinguishers should be readily accessible and maintained according to manufacturer recommendations. Foster parents should ensure every household member understands evacuation procedures, emergency exits, and hurricane or disaster plans.

Medications

Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, controlled substances, marijuana products, and medical supplies must be securely stored where children cannot access them. Medication storage should reflect the ages, developmental abilities, and behavioral needs of children placed in the home. Controlled medications may require additional safeguards.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning products, poisonous substances, pesticides, automotive chemicals, fuels, alcohol, marijuana products, pool chemicals, sharp tools, vaping liquids, and other hazardous materials must be safely stored and inaccessible to children. Hazardous substances should remain in their original labeled containers whenever practical.

Firearms

Firearms must be unloaded, securely locked, and inaccessible to children. Ammunition must generally be stored separately in locked storage. Keys, combinations, trigger locks, safes, or other access devices must remain under adult control. The supervising agency verifies firearm storage during the home inspection.

Pools

Swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, ponds, canals, lakes, and other water hazards must be protected against unauthorized child access. Appropriate barriers may include fences, self-latching gates, alarms, safety covers, rescue equipment, written supervision plans, or other safeguards required by the licensing agency. Children using water features must receive continuous adult supervision.

Pets

Animals must not create an unreasonable risk to children. Foster parents are responsible for maintaining current vaccinations, veterinary care, sanitation, supervision, and safe interactions between children and animals. Animals demonstrating aggressive behavior or presenting a foreseeable danger may require restrictions, additional safeguards, or removal from the home.

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles used to transport foster children must be legally registered, properly insured, safely maintained, and operated by licensed drivers. Seat belts and age-appropriate child restraints must be used at all times as required by Florida law. Smoking, vaping, and use of electronic cigarettes are prohibited while transporting foster children.

Fingerprinting

Florida requires Level II fingerprint-based background screening for foster-parent applicants and all adult household members as required by law. Fingerprints are processed through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation before licensure may be granted.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and adult household members undergo Florida child-welfare history reviews and abuse-registry screening. Applicants who have lived outside Florida during the previous five years may also be required to complete child-abuse and neglect registry checks from those states.

Criminal History

Background screening includes Florida Department of Law Enforcement records, FBI criminal-history records, local law-enforcement information, civil-court records, domestic-violence records, child-welfare history, sex-offender registry reviews, and other records required by Florida law. Background information is evaluated together with references, interviews, home-study findings, and other information relevant to child safety.

Disqualifying Offenses

Certain felony convictions and other serious offenses permanently prohibit foster-home licensure under federal law and Florida statutes. Other criminal histories may require an exemption review where legally permitted. Exemption decisions consider the nature of the offense, rehabilitation, time elapsed, supporting documentation, and whether the applicant presents any current risk to children. Certain offenses are permanently disqualifying and cannot receive an exemption.

Additional Checks

Additional screening may include local law-enforcement records, civil-court records, domestic-violence history, Department of Juvenile Justice records, Florida Abuse Hotline information for applicable household youth, sex-offender registry checks, out-of-state child-protection records, prior foster-care or childcare licensing history, previous home studies, driving records, references, court documents, and any additional information the supervising agency or DCF determines necessary to evaluate the safety and suitability of the foster home.

Steps

• Contact the Florida Foster Information Center or the Community-Based Care lead agency serving the applicant's area.
• Complete the local inquiry, preliminary screening, and orientation process.
• Select the supervising Community-Based Care or contracted child-placing agency.
• Submit the Application for License to Provide Out-of-Home Care for Dependent Children.
• Complete at least 21 hours of Department-approved preservice parent preparation.
• Submit all required supporting documents, releases, agreements, and household information.
• Complete Level II fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history screening.
• Complete child-welfare, abuse-registry, sex-offender, civil-court, domestic-violence, and local law-enforcement checks.
• Complete out-of-state child-abuse or neglect checks when applicable.
• Provide the personal references required by the supervising agency.
• Participate in face-to-face interviews with the licensing specialist.
• Ensure that all household members participate in the Unified Home Study as required.
• Complete the full indoor and outdoor home inspection.
• Complete fire, water, pool, pet, firearm, transportation, and other safety reviews when applicable.
• Correct any health, safety, documentation, or licensing deficiencies identified during the assessment.
• Complete any exemption, professional evaluation, additional training, or written safety plan required by the supervising agency.
• Receive the supervising agency's licensing recommendation or attestation.
• Receive the applicable foster-home license from the Florida Department of Children and Families.
• Complete annual continuing education and cooperate with yearly relicensing requirements.

Average Timeline

Many Florida Level II foster-home licenses are completed in approximately three to six months, although Florida does not guarantee a statewide timeline. Completion depends on local orientation and training schedules, application accuracy, fingerprint processing, references, Unified Home Study interviews, home inspections, out-of-state checks, exemption reviews, and correction of any licensing deficiencies.

Renewal Requirements

Florida foster-home licenses are generally issued for one year and must be renewed before expiration. Relicensing includes an updated Unified Home Study, at least one home visit, review of the family's continued compliance with licensing standards, updated household and placement information, confirmation of required annual training, review of background-screening status, and evaluation of significant changes, complaints, incidents, or safety concerns. The completed renewal application must generally be submitted to the licensing authority at least 45 days before the current license expires.

Ongoing Training

Licensed foster parents must complete at least eight hours of continuing education during each licensed year. Training should address the needs of children placed in the home and may include trauma-informed parenting, family engagement, reunification, behavior support, normalcy, cultural responsiveness, medication responsibilities, sexual abuse, human trafficking, safe sleep, developmental disabilities, medically complex care, water safety, or other topics required by the supervising agency.

How Placements Work

After licensure, the Community-Based Care lead agency, contracted case-management organization, or supervising child-placing agency may contact the foster family when a child needs placement. Placement staff consider the family's licensed capacity, household composition, location, experience, training, strengths, preferences, and ability to meet the child's needs. Decisions also consider sibling relationships, school stability, family and relative connections, cultural identity, medical and behavioral needs, supervision requirements, transportation, visitation, permanency goals, and the child's safety and best interests.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Foster parents may decline a proposed placement they do not believe they can safely or appropriately support. Families should request all available information about the child's age, behaviors, medical needs, medications, education, family visitation, transportation requirements, placement history, supervision needs, known safety concerns, and permanency plan before deciding. Declining an individual placement does not automatically affect the foster-home license.

Emergency Placements

Florida may request emergency placements when children must be removed immediately for their protection. Licensed foster homes may receive placement requests at any time. The placing professional must provide the caregiver with all available information necessary to safely care for the child, including known medical, behavioral, educational, abuse, trafficking, supervision, and safety information. Relatives and nonrelatives with an existing relationship to the child may also receive emergency or child-specific placements while pursuing the appropriate Level I licensing process.

Sibling Groups

Florida seeks to place siblings together whenever doing so is safe and in their best interests. Placement workers consider whether the foster home has sufficient licensed capacity, bedroom space, transportation, supervision, training, and support to care for the sibling group. When siblings cannot live together, the child's team works to preserve their relationships through visitation, communication, shared activities, and coordinated case planning whenever appropriate.

Age Preferences

During the Unified Home Study, applicants identify the ages, number of children, sibling groups, medical conditions, developmental needs, behaviors, supervision levels, and placement types they feel prepared to support. These preferences guide placement calls, but every placement must remain within the family's license, approved capacity, training, and demonstrated caregiving ability.

Monthly Board Rate

Licensed Florida foster parents receive monthly foster-care maintenance payments intended to offset the ordinary expenses of caring for children placed in their homes. Payments may include a statewide room-and-board amount together with any age-based, cost-of-living, level-of-care, Enhanced Foster Care, therapeutic, medical, or locally administered supplement for which the placement qualifies. Rates and payment procedures should be confirmed with the responsible Community-Based Care lead agency because appropriations, cost-of-living adjustments, and local program structures may change.

Clothing Allowance

Foster-care maintenance payments include support intended to help meet a child's routine clothing needs. Additional initial, emergency, seasonal, school, uniform, or special-needs clothing assistance may be available through the Community-Based Care lead agency, supervising agency, community donations, or another approved funding source.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be available when necessary to maintain the placement and support a foster parent's employment, education, preservice or in-service training, court participation, appointments, or other approved responsibilities. Eligibility, provider approval, copayments, reimbursement limits, and authorization procedures vary by Community-Based Care region and the child's circumstances.

Medical Coverage

Children in Florida foster care generally receive Medicaid or another qualifying public healthcare benefit. Foster parents coordinate medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, developmental, behavioral-health, specialty, and emergency services through the child's case manager, Medicaid plan, healthcare providers, and other authorized members of the child's team.

Mileage Reimbursement

Mileage or transportation reimbursement may be available for approved child-related travel, including family visitation, medical and dental care, therapy, court proceedings, educational meetings, evaluations, placement transitions, or other case-plan activities. Availability, rates, documentation requirements, and prior-authorization procedures vary by Community-Based Care lead agency and supervising organization.

Additional Benefits

Depending on the child and placement, additional support may include cost-of-living supplements, Enhanced Foster Care payments, therapeutic or medical foster-care reimbursement, infant-related assistance, childcare subsidies, respite care, transportation support, school supplies, extracurricular funding, behavioral-health consultation, tutoring, developmental services, independent-living support for older youth, and community-donated goods or services.

Respite Care

Respite care may be available to provide licensed foster families with temporary relief and to help preserve placement stability. Respite providers must satisfy applicable screening, training, supervision, and approval requirements. Arrangements, available days, reimbursement, and authorization procedures vary by the Community-Based Care lead agency, supervising agency, placement program, and child's needs.

Support Groups

Florida foster families may access support groups through Community-Based Care lead agencies, contracted child-placing agencies, local foster and adoptive parent associations, faith-based organizations, peer networks, and community partners. Available services may include caregiver meetings, conferences, workshops, online communities, family activities, and continuing education.

Mentoring

Many supervising agencies connect newly licensed foster parents with experienced caregivers who provide mentoring, practical guidance, encouragement, and help navigating placements, documentation, visitation, court involvement, agency communication, and reunification support. Mentoring availability and program structure vary by region.

Counseling

Counseling and behavioral-health services for children are coordinated through the child's case manager, Medicaid plan, community behavioral-health providers, schools, therapists, hospitals, and other approved professionals. Foster parents may also receive consultation, coaching, family therapy participation, trauma-informed guidance, and assistance responding to children's emotional, behavioral, developmental, and placement-related needs.

Crisis Support

Foster parents have access to their licensing specialist, assigned case manager, supervising child-placing agency, Community-Based Care lead agency, after-hours placement or emergency contacts, mobile crisis services, behavioral-health professionals, law enforcement when appropriate, and emergency medical services. Significant medical, behavioral, legal, placement, abuse, runaway, trafficking, or safety concerns must be reported promptly according to agency policy.

Available

Yes. Florida allows licensed foster parents to be considered as adoptive families when adoption becomes the child's approved permanency plan. Foster parents are expected to actively support reunification, family visitation, and the child's current case plan while understanding that some children may later become legally available for adoption if reunification and other permanency options are no longer appropriate.

Process

Children generally enter Florida foster care with reunification as the initial permanency goal whenever it can be achieved safely. Throughout the dependency case, the court, Community-Based Care lead agency, and case-management organization evaluate reunification, placement with relatives or fictive kin, guardianship, and adoption. If the court changes the permanency goal to adoption, prospective adoptive families are evaluated. A foster family currently caring for the child may be considered based upon the child's attachments, stability, sibling relationships, family connections, cultural identity, special needs, wishes when developmentally appropriate, and overall best interests. Additional adoption-specific documentation, legal proceedings, subsidy negotiations, and court approval are required before adoption is finalized.

Legal Risk

Every foster-care placement involves legal uncertainty until parental rights have been terminated or voluntarily relinquished, appeals have concluded, and the court approves adoption. Children may reunify with parents, be placed with relatives or fictive kin, enter guardianship, or achieve another permanency outcome. Foster parents are expected to fully support reunification and healthy family relationships regardless of whether they hope to adopt in the future.

Adoption Subsidy

Eligible children adopted from Florida foster care may qualify for the Florida Adoption Assistance Program. Benefits may include a negotiated monthly adoption subsidy, Medicaid, reimbursement of qualifying non-recurring adoption expenses, tuition assistance through state programs, and approved post-adoption services. Adoption-assistance agreements are generally negotiated and signed before the adoption is finalized.

Available

Yes. Florida strongly encourages placement with relatives and fictive kin whenever safe and appropriate. Kinship caregivers may include grandparents, adult siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents, close family friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, or other adults who have a significant relationship with the child. Kinship placements help preserve family relationships, school stability, cultural identity, community connections, and continuity of care.

Licensing Differences

Florida permits several types of kinship placements, including relative and non-relative caregiver placements under child-specific licensing. Depending upon the child's legal status and the caregiver's role, kinship caregivers may pursue Level I Child-Specific Foster Home licensure or another approved placement arrangement. Certain child-specific licensing requirements may differ from those required for a Level II community foster home while maintaining child-safety standards established by DCF.

Financial Support

Financial assistance depends upon the child's legal status, placement type, and caregiver eligibility. Available resources may include the Relative Caregiver Program, foster-care maintenance payments for licensed homes, Medicaid, Temporary Cash Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, childcare assistance, Supplemental Security Income when applicable, Adoption Assistance, Guardianship Assistance Program benefits for eligible caregivers, independent-living services, and other state or federally authorized support programs.

Can I become a foster parent if I am single?

Yes. Florida welcomes qualified single adults, married couples, and unmarried couples who meet all licensing requirements.

How old do I have to be?

Applicants must generally be at least 21 years old.

Do I have to own my home?

No. Applicants may rent or own a residence provided it meets Florida's licensing and safety standards.

Can I work full time?

Yes. Foster parents may work outside the home if reliable childcare, supervision, transportation, and scheduling arrangements are available for children placed in their care.

Do I need a certain income level?

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial stability to support their household independently of foster-care maintenance payments.

How much preservice training is required?

Florida requires at least 21 hours of approved preservice foster-parent training before licensure.

How much annual training is required?

Licensed foster parents generally complete at least 8 hours of continuing education each licensed year.

Do I have to complete a Unified Home Study?

Yes. Every applicant completes Florida's Unified Home Study, including interviews, home visits, references, and evaluation of the family's readiness to foster.

Will everyone in my household undergo background screening?

Adult household members must complete required Level II background screening and other background reviews required by Florida law.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Pets are permitted when they are healthy, properly vaccinated, supervised, and do not present a safety risk to children.

Can I own firearms?

Yes. Firearms must be unloaded, securely locked, and stored separately from ammunition in accordance with Florida licensing requirements.

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes. Bedroom arrangements are evaluated individually based upon children's ages, developmental needs, privacy, safety, sibling relationships, and licensing standards.

Can I choose the ages of children I foster?

Yes. Families discuss their placement preferences during the Unified Home Study, including age ranges, sibling groups, medical needs, and behavioral needs.

Can I decline a placement?

Yes. Foster parents should accept only placements they believe they can safely and appropriately support.

Will I receive financial assistance?

Yes. Licensed foster parents receive foster-care maintenance payments to help offset the ordinary costs of caring for children placed in their homes.

Do foster children receive healthcare?

Yes. Most children in Florida foster care receive Florida Medicaid or another qualifying healthcare program.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Respite services may be available through the Community-Based Care lead agency or supervising child-placing agency to support placement stability and caregiver well-being.

Can I adopt a child placed with me?

Possibly. If reunification and other permanency options are no longer appropriate and adoption becomes the child's court-approved permanency goal, the foster family may be considered.

Does foster placement guarantee adoption?

No. Foster placement alone does not guarantee adoption. The child's best interests always determine the permanency decision.

Does Florida prioritize relative and fictive-kin placements?

Yes. Florida gives priority to safe placement with relatives and fictive kin whenever appropriate and consistent with the child's best interests.

Who do I contact to report suspected child abuse or neglect?

Call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873. Call 911 immediately if a child is in immediate danger.

State Agency

Florida Department of Children and Families

Phone

Florida Foster Information Center: 1-833-FOSTER-FL (1-833-367-8373); Florida Abuse Hotline: 1-800-962-2873

Email

Prospective foster parents should submit an inquiry through the Florida Foster Information Center or contact the Community-Based Care lead agency serving their county.

Address

Florida Department of Children and Families, 2415 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32303