Foster Care Licensing

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View the webinar recording

View the October 11, 2023 webinar which provided an overview of the new federal rule allowing all title IV-E child welfare agencies to adopt kin-specific foster care licensing standards, thus allowing more children to be cared for by financially supported kin they know and love. The webinar rolled out a new national set of recommendations and featured national kinship experts as well as state child welfare leaders in support of the rule change. 

Administration for Children and Families Program Instruction to provide instruction and attachements to title IV-E agencies on title IV-E plan amendments resulting from the promulgation of Separate Licensing Standards for Relative or Kinship Foster Family Homes (88 FR 66700). 

Information memorandum summarizing the final rule released on 9/28/23 that allows states to adopt separate licensing standards for relative or kinship foster family homes.

Complete text of the final rule (released 9/28/23) allowing states to use different licensing or approval standards for relative or kinship foster family homes and nonrelative/non-kinship foster family homes. The rule also requires title IV–E agencies to periodically review the amount of Foster Care Maintenance Payments (FCMPs) to ensure that the agency provides a licensed or approved relative or kinship foster family home the same amount of FCMP that would have been made if the child was placed in a nonrelated/non-kinship foster family home.

Brief explanation of federal rule releaseed 9/28/23 that allows title IV-E agenceis to develop kin-specific licensing or approval standards. Contains a link where you can provide feedback on these standards and implementation guidance.