Contact DHW Foster Care Licensing

Contact the Division of Family and Community Services, Foster Care Licensing for rule information and questions using the phone, fax, email, or webpage listed by the Department.

• Phone: (208) 334-5700
• Fax: Toll-Free (208) 332-7300
• Email: cfsinquiries@dhw.idaho.gov
• Webpage: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/about-foster-care
• Mailing address: Division of Family and Community Services, Attn: Foster Care Licensing, P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0036

Table of Contents entries

The document includes a multi-page Table of Contents listing foster care licensing sections and headings such as complaints, suspension, revocation, Indian Child Welfare Act provisions, foster parent qualifications, background checks, evaluations, duties, and many reserved section ranges.

• Includes headings for complaints, suspension, revocation, and effect of prior revocation
• References licensing provisions related to the Indian Child Welfare Act and foster parent qualifications
• Lists background checks, evaluations, foster parent duties, transportation, and numerous reserved ranges

Table of Contents — no authorization content

These extracted Table of Contents chunks provide only section headings and do not contain authorization, prior-authorization, billing, or denial decision rules.

• TOC entries present headings like Background Checks; Initial and Ongoing Evaluation; Subsequent Evaluations; Foster Parent Duties; Child Placement Requirements
• No prior authorization, billing, or explicit denial criteria are included in these TOC excerpts

Table of Contents entries

Additional Table of Contents listings enumerate sections covering foster parent qualifications and suitability, background checks, initial and ongoing evaluation, subsequent evaluations, duties, transportation, and child placement requirements.

• Section numbers shown include 200–245 range with specific headings for placement, evaluation, and duties
• Multiple reserved section ranges are indicated throughout

Table of Contents topics

The Table of Contents references topics such as placement, evaluations, foster parent duties, background checks, transportation, behavior management and discipline, and notification requirements.

• Shows sections for Interagency Placement of Children and Substitute Care Placement and Children's Agency Notification
• Includes the Background Checks and Initial and Ongoing Evaluation headings

Licensing actions and timelines

The Department will issue regular, kin-specific, and limited licenses and will deny applications when appropriate; an applicant whose application is denied may not reapply for one year, and an application is deemed vacated if not completed within six months.

• Limited license may be issued for a specific child already in the home when continued placement is more conducive to the child's welfare
• Denial notice sent by registered or certified mail stating basis for denial
• Applicant may not reapply until one year after denial
• Application deemed vacated if not completed within six months

Suspension and revocation authority

The Department may summarily suspend a foster care license and may revoke a license for conditions endangering health or safety, substantial noncompliance, failure to correct deficiencies, repeat violations, misrepresentation, refusal of access, violation of provisional license terms, or certain criminal-history-related findings.

• Suspension: Department may summarily suspend a foster care license
• Revocation grounds include endangering conditions, substantial noncompliance, lack of progress on plan of correction within 30 days, repeat violations, misrepresentation on application, refusal to allow Department access, and specified criminal-history concerns
• Department must notify licensee and give opportunity to provide pertinent information before revocation under specified subsections

Background checks and fingerprint submission

All adult household members must submit fingerprints to the Department's Background Check Unit within ten calendar days; the Department forwards fingerprints to the State Central Record Repository for FBI submission within fifteen calendar days, and federal name-based checks may be requested for emergency kin/relative placements.

• Department may request a Federal Interstate Identification Index name-based criminal history record check in sudden unplanned kin placements
• All adult household members submit fingerprints within 10 calendar days
• Fingerprints forwarded to State Central Record Repository for FBI submission within 15 calendar days
• Child will be removed immediately if an adult refuses federal check, refuses to submit fingerprints, or is denied background clearance

Decision-making limitations and approvals

Caregivers must follow the reasonable and prudent parent standard, and foster parents must seek the children's agency approval before altering a child's physical appearance (haircuts, body piercing, tattooing).

• Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard requires age- or developmentally-appropriate decisions
• Foster parents must obtain agency approval before haircuts, body piercing, or tattooing

Reporting timeline for home changes

A foster parent must report any significant change in the foster home to the children's agency by the next working day after becoming aware of the change; listed reportable changes include serious illness, arrests/convictions, parole/probation initiation, facility admissions/releases, employment changes, treatment, residence change, household member changes, and new licensing applications.

• Report serious illness, injury, or death of a foster parent or household member
• Report arrests, citations, withheld judgments, or criminal convictions
• Report initiation of court-ordered parole or probation
• Notify of admission to or release from correctional, hospital, or treatment facilities
• Report change of employment status, counseling/treatment, or change of residence (apply for licensure at new address at least two weeks prior)
• Inform agency of household member changes including minor children
• Notify agency within five days after filing application for additional licensed services (e.g., certified family home, daycare)

Critical incident notification

The foster parent must immediately notify the responsible children's agency of critical incidents including death or near death, suicidal ideation/threats/attempts, a missing foster child, illness or injury requiring medical treatment or hospitalization, law enforcement involvement, or attempted/unauthorized removal of a foster child.

• Immediate notification required for death or near death of a child in care
• Immediate notification required for suicidal ideation, threats, or attempts by a foster child
• Immediate notification required when a foster child is missing
• Immediate notification required for any illness or injury requiring medical treatment or hospitalization
• Immediate notification required for a foster child's detainment, arrest, or other involvement with law enforcement
• Immediate notification required for attempted removal or removal of a foster child by any person not authorized by the children's agency