Home studies and foster care licenses expire after two years, so at that time we complete a full re-licensure process with families. Please note that many of these documents are required by the state of Minnesota to be completed annually for all foster/adoptive applicants and your worker will communicate what is needed during your annual home visit.
Your home study update will not be signed or considered complete until all required paperwork has been received and an update meeting and annual home safety walk-through has taken place.
Please note that similarly to your initial home study assessment, your worker may take up to 30 days to write the home study update document. Please plan ahead to accommodate this timeframe, taking into account the time it will take to complete and update the documents.
Annually, we ask all licensed child foster care providers to review the Foster Care Adoption Case Service Plan and the Foster Parent and Agency Agreement. These are forms you signed during your initial licensure process. Please review and contact your worker if you have any questions regarding the content of these two documents.
Please download the below forms to complete your for your biannual Re-Licensing Home Study Update and return to your Adoption Worker:
- Reviewing the Home Safety Checklist Guidance may be helpful to ensure that your worker can check “YES” to all boxes when they plan to complete the Home Safety walk-through.
- Please note that an annual inspection and retag of your fire extinguisher is required.
2. Driver’s License and Insurance Verification
- In addition to this form, please also send along copies of each applicant’s Driver’s License & a copy of their current auto insurance card.
- Each license holder must have 12 hours per year of foster care related training. One hour of behavioral health training, one hour of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder training, and Mandated Reporter training are required annually (which can count towards one of the twelve hours of annual training). Required trainings need to be approved by the Commissioner and on the DHS list of approved trainings
4. Pet Vaccination Verification
- Each license holder must complete, regardless if they currently have pets in the home.
5. Well Test (if applicable)
6. DHS Adoption and Foster Care Application
- One per family
- To assist in completing this application, please use the MN DHS Application FCA Update Example
- One per household member age 18+
8. Medical Form
- One per household member 18+; can be filled out based on the most recent doctor visit if it occurred within the last year otherwise a new appointment will be required
- Sign top portion and send to professional to complete. Advise them to return to our agency.
9. Medical Form—Child (if applicable)
- Only required for applicants with children under the age of 18 currently in the home; one per child required
- Sign top portion and send to professional to complete. Advise them to return to our agency.
10. Counseling Form (if applicable)
- Only required for applicants who have seen a counselor within the last year; one per applicant when applicable
- Sign top portion and send to professional to complete. Advise them to return to our agency.
11. Financial Form
- One per family
12. Consent for Release of Information
- One per family
- Review of the Foster Parent Handbook is required annually. Our comprehensive handbook is your go-to guide for all policies, regulations, and best practices related to foster care and adoption. It covers Rights and Responsibilities as a Licensed Provider, Review of Licensing Requirements, Overview of Placement Process, Welcoming Children into your Home, Daily Life with a Foster Child, Rights of Children in Foster Care, Crisis Management, and Benefits for Foster Parents and Children.
14. Foster Parent Handbook Acknowledgement
- Signature by both license holders is required annually on the Foster Parent Handbook Acknowledgement.
