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Obtaining a License

The Office of Licensing offers the following child-caring agency settings for licensure to provide care and supervision to children and youth who require respite care, behavioral treatment, and for children who have been abused and/or neglected and who have been declared dependents of the state.

At-Risk House: provides care and support services to children and youth who are at risk of becoming sex trafficking victims.

Emergency Shelter: provides 24-hour care and supervision for youth in need of shelter on a temporary basis.

Maternity Home: provides care and specialized support for prenatal, post-partum, or parenting youth.

Qualified residential treatment program (QRTP): provides care for youth who have serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances.

Residential Group Home: provides care to meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of children.

Runaway Shelter: provides 24-hour care and supervision for children who are in conflict with their parents or who runaway or are recovered from a missing child episode.

Safe House: certified by the Department to provide 24-hour care and supervision to care for sexually exploited children, as outlined in Section 409.1678, F.S.

Traditional Group Home: provides care to meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of children. A traditional group home is located in a single family or multi-family community with a licensed bed capacity no greater than 14.

Unaccompanied Alien Children Home (UAC): provides care for unaccompanied alien minors, as outlined in rule Chapter 65C-9, F.A.C. 

Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program (URMP): a federally funded and state administered program that provides care of unaccompanied refugee minors, as further defined in Rule 65F-1.001, F.A.C.

Wilderness Camp: provides care to meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of children.

In considering becoming a potential group care provider, please review and self-assess on the following information:

(For assistance with these documents, contact licensing staff member in your area.)