Hands and heart iconCollaborative Sharing Supports Rule Revisions

In late 2023, a Department of Children and Families (DCF) 56 Foster Home Care for Children Advisory Council was formed to begin revising DCF 56. The project is moving at a steady pace, and there has been robust discussion and participation with a multitude of community partners that are helping to advise for promising changes. 

The project is focused on:

  • Aligning the department’s foster care licensing rules with the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Model Foster Family Home Licensing Standards;
  • Removing barriers to licensure;
  • and reducing workload for licensing agencies. 

This project will also establish licensing standards for relatives and like-kin. 

In addition, DCF 57 Group Home Licensing Rule will undergo revisions that focus on:

  • Adopting modern best practices;
  • Supporting provider service delivery;
  • Repealing requirements that are no longer considered necessary for the health and safety of children and are overly burdensome to businesses;
  • Streamlining and clarifying various licensing processes;
  • and including procedure related to statutory changes since the rule was last revised. 

More information on both DCF 56 and DCF 57 will be available throughout 2024. Additional information on the Division of Safety and Permanence’s rule revisions may be found on our website.