Foster Care Licensing

The US Administration for Children and Families approved a new rule allowing kin-specific licensing or approval standards for kinship foster homes.

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.

Overview of federal rule released on 9/28/23 that allows child welfare agencies to use kin-specific licensing or approval standards. Describes what the rule does and doesn't mean, and provides resources to help implement the rule.