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.)