Contact the local agency
Use Florida’s Foster Information Center or the DCF lead-agency directory to reach the organization serving your county.
NAHCENational Alliance for Home-Based and Center-Based EducatorsApply for MembershipFoster, Kinship & Therapeutic Care
Support children by supporting the caregivers around them.
Official Florida pathways for becoming a foster parent, exploring Level IV therapeutic foster care, and finding support for existing foster and kinship caregivers.
Children’s Well-Being & Opportunity
A child-centered Alliance role.
NAHCE supports children by strengthening the educators, families, foster parents, and kinship caregivers around them. Future Alliance resources may include trauma-responsive learning, inclusive-practice education, child-care and school-readiness connections, and basic-needs or learning-supply support when funds are available.
Privacy and safety standard
Protect children’s information and use the right help.
Do not send a child’s case records, placement details, medical information, or identifying information to NAHCE. The Alliance does not provide crisis intervention, case management, or placement services. For a safety concern, follow required reporting procedures and contact the child’s assigned agency, Florida’s official child-welfare channel, or emergency services as appropriate.
Level IV Foster Care
What is a therapeutic foster home?
Florida defines a Level IV Therapeutic Foster Home as a licensed home with caregivers who receive specialized training to support children and adolescents with significant emotional, behavioral, or social needs. The caregiver provides individualized care as part of the child’s treatment and support team.
Complete foster licensing
Expect orientation, required education, background screening, a home inspection, and a family home study.
Ask about Level IV
Therapeutic approval requires additional specialized preparation and is offered through qualified local licensing and treatment partners.
Four Pilot Counties
Local foster-care starting points
These are the current DCF-listed Community-Based Care lead agencies. Ask the agency which contracted provider currently licenses Level IV therapeutic foster homes in your county.
Hillsborough
Children’s Network of Hillsborough
County lead agency and general foster-care starting point.
Open local foster-care resource →Pinellas & PascoFamily Support Services of SunCoast
Lead agency foster-care information for both counties.
Open local foster-care resource →PolkHeartland for Children
Lead agency foster-care information for Polk County.
Open local foster-care resource →Confirmed Therapeutic Resource
Children’s Home Network
Its current program page says it licenses and supports specialized therapeutic foster families in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties and offers training, clinical services, consultation, and 24/7 on-call support.
Support for Caregivers
Help should continue after licensing.
Therapeutic foster parents should receive agency and clinical support. The Alliance can also connect members with statewide caregiver education and peer-support resources without replacing the child’s assigned care team.
Florida DCF
Foster-family support
Find statewide information about foster-family resources, community support, and caregiver organizations.
Open DCF support resources →Caregiver AssociationFlorida FAPA
Free statewide membership, education, advocacy, local connections, and resources for foster, adoptive, relative, and non-relative caregivers.
Visit Florida FAPA →Statewide Starting PointFlorida Foster Care
Access foster-care definitions, licensing information, challenges, rewards, contact options, and official resources.
Open Florida Foster Care →Updates & Legislation
Current Florida foster-care information
Last verified August 31, 2026. Each item is labeled as an enacted change, agency guidance, or unsuccessful proposal so families can tell the difference.
Foster room-and-board rates increased
Florida DCF’s HB 5301E guidance applies to Level I–V licensed foster parents. Monthly base rates are now $663.03 for ages 0–5, $680.01 for ages 6–12, and $795.94 for ages 13–21. The supplemental monthly payment for eligible caregivers supporting ages 13–17 is $79.60.
Caregiver note:Contact the local lead agency with questions about a specific payment, enhanced rate, guardianship assistance, or adoption subsidy.
Read the official DCF memo →Youth must receive information about their rights
DCF issued current guidance concerning the Youth in Foster Care Rights Brochure and the Office of the Children’s Ombudsman. Caregivers should receive a written copy of a child’s protections at placement changes, while child-welfare professionals are responsible for explaining and documenting the information.
Caregiver note:Ask the assigned team for the current brochure, age-appropriate explanation, and instructions for contacting the Children’s Ombudsman.
Read the official DCF memo →Do not treat unsuccessful 2026 bills as requirements
CS/HB 763 included proposed child-welfare changes but died in committee on March 13, 2026. SB 7018 passed the Senate but died in House messages the same day. Neither proposal became Florida law.
Alliance standard:We will report bill status—not just bill summaries—and update a notice only after confirming enactment or final agency guidance.
Information verified August 31, 2026 from Florida DCF and the linked local agencies. Program availability, licensing partners, training schedules, and placement needs can change. Applicants should confirm all requirements directly with their local licensing agency.