ICPC State Pages

Florida Relative Placements

Florida conducts the following types of home studies:

• Relative Care
• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Parent Care
• Adoption
• Other

Relative Home Study

Define Relative:

• F.S. 39.01(64) "Relative" means a grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, first cousin, aunt, uncle, great-aunt, great-uncle, niece, or nephew, whether related by the whole or half blood, by affinity, or by adoption. The term does not include a stepparent.

Relatives must be licensed:

• No

Proof of Paternity Required for Placement with Paternal Relative:

• Yes : Copy of marriage license if mother was married at time of birth or conception of child, birth certificate signed by the father, court order, administrative determination of paternity, or affidavit of paternity .

Florida considers the following types and degrees of relation as relative placements. Individuals related in the 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree and 4th degree (You may need to refer to your state's consanguinity chart or state statute to determine relations or relative status.):

• 1st Degree (mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter)
• 2nd Degree (grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin)

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

Florida performs priority placements:

• Yes

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study)

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):

• 60 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• Other: We will not approve a home study without all required criminal and abuse records checks.

Florida determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:

• Other

Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study

Criminal Records Checks

Florida requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

• Foster Care
• Relative Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Foster-Adopt
• Adoption
• Parent
• Other, specified below

Types of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Florida requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks (Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR))

Wait Time for Criminal Records Checks

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: 48-72 hours

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 31-60 days
• Local/County: 31-60 days

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):

• 60 days

Verification of Criminal Records Results

• Signature verifying background check completed

Wait Time - (License/ Certification/ Approval - Education and Training)

Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:

• 3-6 mos.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required:

• 1 year
  F.S. 409.175(6)(j) Except for a family foster group home having a licensed capacity for more than five children, the department may issue a license that is valid for longer than 1 year but no longer than 3 years to a family foster home that: 1. Has maintained a license with the department as a family foster home for at least the 3 previous consecutive years; 2. Remains in good standing with the department; and 3. Has not been the subject of a report of child abuse or neglect with any findings of maltreatment. A family foster home that has been issued a license valid for longer than 1 year must be monitored and visited as frequently as one that has been issued a 1-year license. The department reserves the right to reduce a licensure period to 1 year at any time.

Florida offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved:

• Other: Classes are offered regularly, but scheduling varies within contracted state case management agencies.