Policy Memoranda Archive
This page contains DCF memos issued prior to 2021. For memos issued since 2021, see the Policy Memoranda page.
Adoptions
- Adoption Application Update (1/13/2015)
- Adoption Medical Subsidy Payment Documentation Memo (9/20/16)
- Adoption Target Policy Review and Update (12/15/20)
- Adoption of Chapter 65C-45, F.A.C., Levels of Licensure and repeal of CFOP 170-11, Chapter 16, Levels of Licensure (7/24/20)
- CFOP 170-12, Adoptions; Chapter 2, Extension of Maintenance Adoption Subsidy- Effective December 15, 2018 (12/7/18)
- CFOP 170-12 - Adoptions (12/22/17)
- CFOP 170-12 Ch 9 Post Adoption Communications & Ch 10 Community-Based Care Incentive Program (4/6/16)
- FSFN Eligibility Enhancement Pre-Adoption Case Termination of Adoption Assistance Agreement (12/13/19)
- Updates to the Adoption Benefits for State Employees Program (12/3/20)
Child Protective Investigations
- Abusive Head Trauma and Child Sexual Abuse Training - Required (12/23/20)
- CFOP 170-2 Completing Hotline Intake Assessments and 170-5 Child Protective Investigations (4/4/16)
- CFOP 170-6, Chapter 1, Child Fatality Investigative Response. Effective Date: 11/11/16 (11/7/16)
- CFOP 170-1, Ch. 2, Core Concepts; and CFOP 170-7, Ch. 5, Safety Plan Involving Release of a Child with Non-Maltreating Parent/Legal Guardian (10/15/20)
- CFOP 170-10 Providing Services and Support for Children in Care and For Caregivers: Chapter 2, Behavioral Health Care Engagement (6/26/20)
- CPI Notifications to Agency for Persons with Disabilities (with Attachments) (11/17/14)
- CPI File Cabinet Upload (10/16/20)
- Child Protective Investigation Response for Children in a Florida Association of Christian Child Caring Agencies (FACCCA) Home or Facility (6/29/20)
- Mandatory Contact with Reporters (12/18/15)
- New CPI Scorecard (11/24/15)
- New Notification Procedure for Institutional Investigations Involving Certified Educators (6/13/17)
- Update to CFOP 170-4 - Child Maltreatment Index (Substance Misuse) (12/23/16)
- Update to Maltreatment Index - Inadequate Supervision (with Attachments) (1/9/15)
Cross Program Policy/Guidance
- 2016 Legislative Changes Related to Child Well-Being (8/5/16)
- Certified Statement of Final Judgment of Paternity - fillable form.
- CFOP 170-5 Chapter 26, Supervisor Consultations(12/3/20)
- CFOP 170-15, Chapter 10, Title IV-E Candidacy for In-Home Supervision Cases (11/13/20)
- CFOP 170-1, Chapter 5, Completing a Unified Home Study Effective Date: June 15, 2018
- CFOP 170-1, Chapter 5, Unified Home Study Update - with Attachments (5/1/19)
- CFOP 170-1, Chapter 6, Requesting and Analyzing Background Records (6/29/18)
- CFOP 170-1, Chapter 9, Newborns or Other New Children in Households with Active Investigation or Ongoing Services - Eff 4/19/17 (4/14/17)
- CFOP 170-1, Chapter 14, Completing a Diligent Search for Parents or Diligent Efforts to Locate Relatives, with attachment. Eff 11-1-18 (10/31/18)
- CFOP 170-1, Chapter 15, Reports and Services Involving American Indian Children, replacing CFOP 175-36 (12/30/19)
- CFOP 170-1. Florida's Child Welfare Practice Model (5/30/16)
- CFOP 170-1, Florida’s Child Welfare Practice Model Effective Date: 2/15/18 (2/7/18)
- CFOP 170-3, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Chapter 12, Criminal Background Checks for Child Care Personnel (2/3/17)
- CFOP 170-4, Child Maltreatment Index Regarding Child Restraint Devices (Revised) (6/1/18)
- CFOP 170-4, Child Maltreatment Index Substance Abuse Exposure (Revised)– Effective July 1, 2018 (6/25/18)
- CFOP 170-4, Child Maltreatment Index (with attachment) (2/25/16)
- CFOP 170-4, Memo-FSFN Functionality Enhancements and Updates to Child Maltreatment Index (3/24/17)
- CFOP 170-5, Chapter 23, Child Protective Investigations, "Patently Unfounded" Reports (1/30/17)
- CFOP 170-6 Chapter 1, Child Fatality Investigative Response - Effective December 1, 2018 (11/19/18)
- CFOP 170-7, Develop and Manage Safety Plans (6/14/16)
- CFOP 170-7, Develop and Manage Safety Plans (3/24/17)
- CFOP 170-7, Develop and Manage Safety Plans - Updates Ch 2, 4 and 12. Effective Date: 3/15/18 (3/5/18)
- CFOP 170-8, Plan of Safe Care for Infants Affected by Prenatal Substance Abuse (7/6/18)
- CFOP 170-9, Family Assessment and Case Planning , Chapters 2-6 (5/1/19)
- CFOP 170-10, Chapter 2, Providing Services and Supports for Children in Care and for Caregivers:Behavioral Health Care - Effective December 15, 2018 (12/7/18)
- CFOP 170-10, Chapter 8 – Relative/Kinship Caregiver Support Effective: January 15, 2019 (1/11/2019)
- CFOP 170-10, Chapter 13, Guardianship Assistance Program- Effective: 7/1/19 (3/29/19)
- CFOP 170-10, Chapter 14, Guardianship Assistance Program Eligibility -- Effective: July 1, 2019 (4/9/19)
- CFOP 170-10, Providing Services and Support for Children in Care and for Caregivers, Chapter 2, Behavioral Health Care (3/1/17)
- CFOP 170-10, Providing Services and Support for Children in Care and for Caregivers; Ch 2, Behavioral Health Care (4/18/17)
- CFOP 170-11, Chapter 4 Child Placement Agreements and Behavior Management Plans (Eff: 9/12/16) (6/24/16)
- CFOP 170-11, Chapter 4, Child Placement Agreements for Care Precautions or Behavior Management Plans (1/25/17)
- CFOP 170-11, Chapter 5: Residential Mental Health Treatment (11/15/17)
- CFOP 170-11, Chapter 6, Placement - Normalcy (1/11/2019)
- CFOP 170-11, Ch.6: Normalcy; Ch.7: Babysitting; Ch.8: Vacation/Travel (Eff: 7/25/16) (7/18/16)
- CFOP 170-11, Chapter 12, Foster Home Licensing (4/12/19)
- CFOP 170-11, Chapter 16, Levels of Licensure - with Attachments (4/18/19)
- CFOP 170-13, Chapter 2, Child Support and Paternity Establishment (12/2/19)
- CFOP 170-14, Response to the Human Trafficking of Children (7/14/16)
- CFOP 170-14, Response to Human Trafficking of Children (Revised) (11/21/17)
- CFOP 170-17, Services for Transitioning Youth and Young Adults: Effective 8/15/18 (8/3/18)
- CFOP 170-12, Chapter 3, Adoption Applicant Review Committee (11/10/20)
- CFOP 170-9, Chapter 5, Case Planning to Support Family Change (9/28/20)
- CFOP 170-15, Federal and State Funding Eligibility (9/18/20)
- CFOP 155-10/175-40 has been renumbered to CFOP 170-18 and Chapter 3, Psychotropic Medications, has been updated (9/17/20)
- CFOP 50-1, Criminal Justice Information Services, Chapter 9, Fingerprint Applicant Notification and Acknowledgement; Chapter 10, Caretaker Screening; and Chapter 11, Exemption from Disqualification (9/28/20)
- CFOP 170-2, Completing Hotline Intake Assessment, Chapter 1, Conducting an Interview; and Chapter 7, Screening Decision and Response Time for Child Takes (9/28/20)
- CFOP 215-8 Institutional Oversight of Human Subject Research and Institutional Review Board Designation (2/7/19)
- CFOP 215-8 Memo-Institutional Oversight of Human Subject Research and Institutional Review Board Designation (3/24/17)
- Chapter 65C-41, F.A.C., Extended Foster Care - adopted and obsoletes CFOP 170-17, Ch 7, Extended Federally Funded FC (2/22/19)
- Chapter 2020-31, Laws of Florida (Senate Bill 698) and Implications for Child Protection Teams Services and Examinations - Effective Immediately (9/16/20)
- CFOP 170-10, Chapter 13, Guardianship Assistance Program (9/2/20)
- CFOP 170-4, Child Maltreatment Index (9/1/20)
- CFOP 170-11, Chapter 5, 60-Day Independent Review by Qualified Evaluators and 30-Day visits for children residing in residential treatment programs out-of-state (5/22/20)
- CFOP 170-5, Chapter 9: Coordination with Child Protection Team (CPT); Medical Neglect Consultations (9/1/20)
- Updates to rules 65C-30.006, F.A.C., Case Planning, and 65C-30.008, F.A.C., Child Welfare Professional Responsibilities to Parents (8/31/20)
- Office of Child Welfare (OCW) Policy and Practice Documentation of Virtual Contact (8/12/20)
- CFOP 170-11, Placement; Chapter 15, Non-DCF License (8/11/20)
- Temporary Background Screening Procedures For Submitting Name Based Checks with Supporting Documentation (4/17/20)
- Temporary Name-Based Criminal History Checks for Employment or Licensure (4/17/20)
- 'Go' for FSFN Enhancements coming on April 3, 2020
- 'Get Set' for FSFN Enhancements coming April 3, 2020
- OCW Guidance for COVID-19: Suggested Use of Personal Protective Equipment for DCF Frontline Team Members (3/29/20)
- OCW Guidance for COVID-19: Guidance for CPI and API Frontline Team Members (3/23/20)
- OCW Guidance for COVID-19: Methods for 30-Day Visits for Children, Youth, Young Adults Placed In-State Care (3/23/20)
- 'Get Ready' for FSFN Enhancements Coming April 3, 2020 (3/20/20)
- CFOP 50-1, Criminal Justice Information Services Policy Update (3/13/20)
- CFOP 170-1, Chapter 6, Section 16-7 Fingerprint Exemptions for Household Members (3/13/20)
- Requests for Non-DCF License for In-State Placements (3/4/20)
- Child Protective Investigations Notifications to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)(2/26/20)
- Children Sleeping in Offices, Hotels, or Other Unlicensed/Unapproved Placements (2/21/20)
- 2020 Foster Parent Cost of Living Allowance Increase (1/17/20)
- CFOP 170-11, Chapter 12, Foster Home Licensing (1/15/20)
- Chapter 2015-130, Laws of Florida, re: Education of Children Known to the Department (1/8/16)
- Discontinuing Name-Based Criminal History Checks for Employment or Licensure Effective October 21, 2020 (10/20/20)
- Efficiencies to Support Child Protective Investigations and Case Management Staff (2/8/17)
- Every Student Succeeds Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (10/27/16) with attachments
- Federal Guidance Letters - Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (12/23/16)
- Guidance to Incorporate Office of Economic Self-Sufficiency Program Employees to Participate in the Office of Child Welfare Multidisciplinary Staffing Process (11/6/19)
- Guidelines for the Release of Children's Foster Care Records (12/6/17)
- Human Trafficking Screening Tool (HTST) and Level of Human Trafficking Placement Tool (with Attachments) (1/8/16)
- Implementation of the New 12 Month School Readiness Eligibility Requirements - At-Risk Referrals (7/1/16) (DOE)
- Notification of the Title IV-E Educational Student Stipend Program Closure (9/19/16)
- Paternity Establishment and Requirements to Secure Amended Birth Certificates (3/13/15)
- Quality Visits Guidelines and Tool (3/1/19)
- Psychotropic Medication FSFN Documentation: Court Order and Parental Consent (4/25/16)
- Revision of Procedure for Relative and Non-Relative Placements (with Attachments) (2/9/15)
- Single Point of Contact for the Release of Children's Foster Care Records (12/6/17)
- Status of Criminal Record and Child Abuse Registry Checks for Adults Working in Child-Care Institutions (10/26/18)
- Update on Training Requirements for Specialized Human Trafficking Designation (12/1/17)
- Updated Risk Assessment Manual (With Attachments)- Effective Date 10/24/16
- Home Visits and Visitation During COVID (7/23/20)
- OCW COVID‐19 Guidance for Frontline Team Members (7/21/20)
- OCW COVID‐19 Guidance: Required Use of Personal Protective Equipment for DCF Frontline Team Members (7/21/20)
Fiscal
- 2019 Foster Parent Cost of Living Allowance Increase (1/14/19)
- CFOP 170-10, NonRelative Caregiver Financial Assistance (12/29/16)
- CFOP 170-15, Federal and State Funding Eligibility (5/1/19)
- CFOP 170-15; Federal and State Funding Eligibility (8/8/16)
- CFOP 170-15, Federal and State Funding (12/30/19)
- Child Victims of Sexual Exploitation (Children's Mental Health Wraparound Services) Payment Documentation Memo (9/20/16)
- Purchase of Therapeutic Services for Children (12/5/19)
- 2020-2021 Federal Poverty Guidelines for TANF - Effective July 1, 2020 (6/12/20)
- 2020-2021 TANF Eligibility Form CF-FSP 5244
- Title IV-E Approved Eligibility Guidance (8/7/19)
- Title IV-E Eligibility (8/19/14)
- Title IV-E Funding for Child Protective Investigation (9/4/19)
- Title IV-E Training Funding for Child Protective Investigations (5/2/16)
- Title IV-E Training Funding for Sheriff Office Child Protective Investigations (9/18/19)
FSFN Enhancements - Policy Guidance
- Child Safety Determination Selections (11/20/15)
- Child Welfare Practice Model (Safety Methodology) - FSFN Security Profile Update for all Child Protective Investigations Users (Eff: 8/1/16) (7/22/16)
- Eligibility Enhancements Project Update and Upcoming Trainings Announcements (3/16/15)
- Enhancements to the Child Protective Investigations/Special Conditions Workload Listing available within FSFN (9/28/16)
- FSFN 4th Quarter Release -Go Live Memo (with Attachment) (7/10/2015)
- FSFN Enhancements: Eligibility Enhancements Release 1 – Postponed to November 1, 2019 (9/27/19)
- FSFN Enhancements deployed on May 20, 2020 (with attachment (5/29/20)
- FSFN Functionality: Statewide Visitation Provider (3/6/19)
- FSFN Implementation: Extension of Maintenance Adoption Subsidy Program- Implementation Guidance (12/17/18)
- FSFN Implementation: Extended Foster Care(12/10/18)
- FSFN Implementation: Levels of Licensure (4/9/19)
- FSFN Enhancement to document Virtual Contacts will deploy on August 7, 2020 (8/7/20)
- Get Ready for Adoption Incentive Enhancements Coming on April 1st - FSFN Quarter 3 Release (3/21/16)
- Get Ready for FSFN Cloud Migration (11/21/17)
- Get Ready for FSFN Enhancements - Child Placement Agreement and Data Reporting (4/26/17)
- Get Ready for FSFN Enhancements - Eligibility Enhancements Release 1 (9/13/19)
- Get Ready for FSFN Enhancements - Guardianship Assistance Program (7/12/19)
- Get Ready for FSFN Enhancements - Strengthening Child Safety Through Technology (10/27/16)
- Get Ready for FSFN Enhancements - Levels of Licensure (3/29/19)
- Get Ready for FSFN Enhancements - Strengthening Child Safety through Technology (2/20/17)
- Get Ready for FSFN Enhancements - Title IV-E Extended Foster Care and Extension of the Maintenance Adoption Subsidy (12/28/2018)
- Get Ready for FSFN Enhancements - Medicaid Applications (6/2/17)
- Get Ready for FSFN Enhancements - Unified Home Study (6/4/18)
- Get Set for FSFN Enhancements - Child Placement Agreement and Data Reporting (5/3/17)
- Get Set for Child Protective Investigations FSFN Enhancements-Strengthening Child Safety Through Technology (11/4/16)
- Get Set for FSFN Enhancements - Eligibility Enhancements Release 1 (10/30/19)
- Get Set for FSFN Enhancements - Strengthening Child Safety through Technology (3/1/17)
- Get Set for FSFN Enhancements - Unified Home Study (6/8/18)
- Get Set for FSFN Quarter 3 Release - HB 7013 Adoptions & Foster Care (3/29/16)
- ‘Get Ready’ for FSFN Enhancements coming January 22, 2021 (with Attachment) (12/22/20)
- Go Live for FSFN Enhancements - Child Placement Agreement and Data Availability and Revised CFOP 170-11, Chapter 4 - Child Placement Agreements for Care Precautions and Behavior Management Plans (5/12/17)
- Go Live for FSFN Enhancements - Data Quality Improvements for Single Source and New Integrated Search Tool (9/14/18)
- Go Live for FSFN Enhancements - Eligibility Enhancements Release 1 (11/1/19)
- Go Live for FSFN Enhancements - Levels of Licensure (4/12/19)
- Go Live for FSFN Enhancements - Modifications to Person Provider Inquiry (8/17/18)
- Go Live for FSFN Enhancements - Strengthening Child Safety through Technology (3/24/17)
- Go Live for FSFN Enhancements - Strengthening Child Safety through Technology has been rescheduled to March 24, 2017 (3/16/17)
- Go Live for FSFN Enhancements - Unified Home Study Friday, June 15, 2018 (6/14/18)
- Go Live for FSFN Enhancements - Guardianship Assistance Program (7/25/19)
- Go Live for FSFN Enhancements to Medicaid Applications (6/30/17)
- ‘Go’ for FSFN Enhancements coming on June 26, 2020 (6/26/20)
- Go Live for FSFN Cloud Migration (11/30/17)
- Go Live for FSFN Quarter 3 Release - HB 7013 Adoptions & Foster Care (4/4/16)
- Go Live for Child Protective Investigations FSFN Enhancements-Strengthening Child Safety Through Technology (11/10/16)
- Go Live for the Eligibility Enhancements Coming on April 25th (with Attachments) (4/24/2015)
- CFOP 170-3, Procedures Related to Missing Children, replacing CFOP 175-85 (10/15/20)
General/Announcements
- 2016-2017 Federal Poverty Levels Guidelines (6/21/16)
- 2017/18 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines Memo & TANF Form (6/29/17)
- 2018 Foster Parent Cost of Living Allowance Increase (1/19/18)
- 2018 Legislative Changes Related to Child Welfare - with attachments (10/8/18)
- 2018-2019 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines for TANF - Effective July 1, 2018 (6/26/18)
- 8th Annual Child Abuse and Neglect Conference April 28-29 (3/25/16)
- Announcement - Child Welfare Public Facing Dashboards - now live (5/12/17)
- Child Support in Child Welfare Cases (4/20/18)
- Children Obtaining Driver's Licenses - Senate Bill 60 (6/8/17)
- Children Sleeping in Offices (6/22/16)
- Human Trafficking Screening Tool and Foster Parent Training (4/10/15)
- Mandatory Multidisciplinary Baker Act Staffing (6/6/18)
- New Release of Child Welfare Dashboard (11/6/17)
- Program Improvement Plan (3/30/17)
- Rate Agreement to David Mandel LLC, Training and Case Consultation (with Attachments) (3/3/15)
- Unified Home Study Completion (3/1/18)
- Use of Child Restraint Seats When Transporting Children (3/11/16)
Independent Living/Youth
- APD Medicaid Waiver Enrollment Procedures for Young Adults Ages 18-22 in the DCF Extended Foster Care Program (10/2/15)
- CFOP 170-15, Federal and State Funding Eligibility; Ch 6, Extended Foster Care and Ch 7, Extension of Maintenance Adoption Subsidy (12/7/18)
- CFOP 170-17, Chapter 1, Life Skills and Independent Living Needs Assessments - Effective July 29, 2019 (7/26/19)
- CFOP 170-17, Services for Transitioning Youth and Young Adults, Chapter 3 Extended Foster Care and Chapter 7, Extended Federally Funded Foster Care (12/11/18)
- Credit Checks for Youth in Out of Home Care: Updated Requirements (9/25/2015)
- Eligibility Clarification for the Postsecondary Education Services and Support Program (PESS) (3/12/16)
- Federal National Youth and Transition Database Survey Implementation (8/15/19)
- National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) Survey (9/14/16)
- Tuition and Fee Exemption for Former Foster Youth and Positive Pathways Program (Positive Pathways) (1/10/20)
Out-of-Home & Licensed Care
- 60-Day Independent Review by Qualified Evaluators--Effective: July 1, 2019 (6/21/19)
- 2016 Foster Parent Cost of Living Allowance (2/5/16)
- 2017 Foster Parent Cost of Living Allowance Increase (2/24/17)
- Adoption of Chapter 65C-44, F.A.C., Guardianship Assistance Program and repeal of CFOP 170-10, Chapter 14, Guardianship Assistance Program Eligibility (8/30/19)
- Assessment Process for the Placement of Children in Out-of-Home Care Memo (1/2/18)
- CFOP 170-10, Chapter 13 - Guardianship Assistance Program-- Effective: July 1, 2019 (5/24/19)
- CFOP 170-10 Chapter 13, Guardianship Assistance Program (8/9/19)
- CFOP 170-10, Providing Services and Support for Children in Care and for Caregivers, Chapter 2, Behavioral Health Care (3/1/17)
- CFOP 170-11, Chapter 16, Placement, Levels of Licensure (12/30/19)
- CFOP 170-16, Ch 6 - TCA/Hardship Exemption - Substitute Care Review (12/19/16)
- Factors to Consider in the Determination of Placement of Children in Out of Home Care (5/30/18)
- Family Foster Home Licensing File Storage (4/2/15)
- Foster and Group Home Implementation of the Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard: Updated Requirements (9/25/2015)
- Foster Home Licensing 2019 Legislative Updates (7/1/19)
- Guardianship Assistance Program: Financial Implementation (7/19/19)
- Requests for Non-DCF License for Out-of-State Placements (9/27/19)
- Residential Group Home Staff Abuse Registry Background Checks Pilot (1/9/17)
- Zoning Requirements for Applicants Seeking Initial Licensure Through DCF as a Foster Care Facility or Group Home Facility
Quality Assurance
- 2016 Federal Child and Family Services Review (with Attachments) (1/22/16)
- CFSR PIP goal2, Strategy A, Key Activities 8.3.1 - 8.3.3. (Caregiver notice of hearings and right to be heard in court)
- Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Round 3 Exit Conference and Program Improvement Plan (PIP) Planning Session (1/6/17)
- Child and Family Service Review (CFSR) Stakeholder Interviews (5/20/16)
- Child and Family Services Review Round 3 Data Profile (12/11/15)
- Minimum Requirements to Conduct Specified Reviews of All Child Fatalities (01/26/16)
- Quality Assurance Reviews on Child Fatalities (2/11/16)
- Rapid Safety Feedback Updates - Strengthening Child Safety through Technology (3/29/17)
Staff Information & Training
- 2019-2020 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines for TANF/with TANF form (6/19/19)
- Attachment: Form CF-FSP 5224 - Request for TANF Funds Eligibility Determination - 2019/2020 (word document)
- Abusive Head Trauma and Child Sexual Abuse Training - Required (12/23/20)
- Annual Progress and Services Report (4/1/16)
- Annual Progress and Services Report (12/15/16)
- Annual Progress and Services Report (3/16/15)
- Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel Tuition Exemption Waiver Program (10/17/19)
- Continuing Education Training Requirements for Foster Parents (5/28/20)
- Identification of Professional Licensure or Employment in a Group Home on an Intake Report (5/26/20)
- Open Enrollment Announcement for the Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel Loan Forgiveness Program Memo (4/14/2015)
- Program Improvement Plan (Update and Guidance for Implementation (7/7/17)
- Random Moment Sampling – Tip Sheet and Updates (10/11/19)
- Random Moment Sampling-Training and Implementation (8/6/19)
- Rate Agreement to Access Action for Child Protection, Inc. Training Resources (with Attachments) (10/28/14)
- Regional Title IV-E Training Plans (10/27/17)
- Reinstatement of Child Welfare ln-service and Supervisory Certification Requirements (12/29/06)