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BECOME A FOSTER PARENT

HOW DO I BECOME A FOSTER PARENT?

Prospective foster parents work with local community organizations to complete the licensing process. Below are some of the steps they will take you on your journey to becoming a foster parent. 

 

 

To qualify as a potential foster parent, you must:

  • Attend an orientation.

  • Complete FREE foster parent educational resource hours (PRIDE).

  • Have a child abuse and fingerprint-based, criminal background check.

  • Participate in a home inspection.

  • Participate in a home study to review your readiness for fostering in your home.

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NORTHEAST FLORIDA

Licensed Child-Placing Agencies

DUVAL COUNTY

Family Support Services of North Florida

1300 Riverplace Blvd. Suite 700 Jacksonville, FL 32207

Tel: 904-421-5800

https://www.fssjax.org/

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

Family Integrity Program

200 San Sebastian View, Suite 2300, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Tel: 904-209-6080

http://www.sjcfl.us/FIP/

NASSAU COUNTY

Family Support Services of North Florida
96016 Lofton Square Court, Yulee, FL 32097
Tel: 904-225-5347

https://www.fssjax.org/

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ONE MORE CHILD

One More Child/ FBCH – Jacksonville

Faith Based Institution

2300 Bartram Road Jacksonville, 32207

Tel: 904-421-2711

https://onemorechild.org/our-care/foster-care/foster-inquiry/

CLAY COUNTY

Kids First of Florida

1726 Kingsley Avenue, Suite 2 Orange Park, Fl 32073

Tel: 904-278-5644

https://kidsfirstofflorida.org/

NATIONAL YOUTH ADVOCATE PROGRAM

921 N Davis St, Jacksonville, FL 32209

Tel: Phone: (954) 337-2844

https://www.nyap.org/

LEVELS OF FOSTER CARE LICENSURE

Level I: Child-Specific Foster Home **NEW**

This NEW licensure type is designed for relatives and non-relatives who have an existing relationship with the child from whom they are seeking licensure. When a child is not able to safely remain at home with their parents, a family or like-family member who is willing and able to provide care for the child, is the next best alternative.

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Level II: Non-Child Specific Foster Home

This licensure type is available to individuals in the community who may be interested in fostering. As a foster parent, you can give a child the love and security they need. You become a partner with the department, the court system, and community-based care agencies to ensure children in foster care are safe, healthy, and able to reach their full potential.

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Level III: Safe Foster Home For Victims Of Human Trafficking

Foster home licensing for individuals interested in providing a safe and stable environment for victims of human trafficking. Human trafficking is defined as the transporting, soliciting, recruiting, harboring, providing, or obtaining of another person for transport; for the purposes of forced labor, domestic servitude or sexual exploitation using force, fraud and/or coercion.

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Level IV: Therapeutic Foster Home

Licensed foster home for caregivers who have received specialized training to care for a wide variety of children and adolescents who may have significant emotional, behavioral, or social needs. As a therapeutic foster parent, you will provide individualized care in your home to ensure a child receives the appropriate level of care in the least restrictive setting.

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Level V: Medical Foster Home

Licensing for caregivers who have received specialized training to provide care for children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions. Medical foster parents enable children from birth through age 20 with medically-complex conditions whose parents can not care for them in their own homes, to live and receive care in a foster home rather than in hospitals or other facility settings.

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