Child Foster Care License
Families are needed to open their homes to children needing a temporary place to live. Placements vary in length. Foster care providers become part of the agency team that works closely to meet the child's needs and with the child's parents toward the goal of reuniting the family or finding permanency for the child.
Child foster care programs are licensed under Minnesota rules which establish minimum standards that the program must meet including:
- the licensing process
- capacity limits
- foster home physical environment
- foster home safety
- license holder qualifications
- foster parent training
- placement/continued stay/discharge of foster children
- respite and substitute care for foster family settings
- requirements for what records must be provided to the licensing agency
Additional requirements for foster residence settings include:
- staff training requirements
- staffing pattern and personnel policy requirements
- communication and documentation requirements
- admission/treatment/discharge requirements
To become licensed as a child foster care provider the applicant must meet minimum licensing standards:
- Reside in the county in a home that meets fire-safety code
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Allow the county or state to complete a criminal history background check on all required persons, including household members who are 13 years of age or older
- The provider and adult household members must provide a statement that they are receiving all necessary medical care and are physically able to care for foster children and a statement that they have been free of chemical use problems for the previous two years
- Applicants must provide 3 positive references
- Applicants must have bedroom space available for foster children
- A completed home study of the family
- Meet required training hours annually