These resources provide guidance on the critical elements and standards for providing foster care, group and residential care services, including State and local examples.
CWLA Standards of Excellence for Family Foster Care Services
Child Welfare League of America
Presents standards of excellence for family foster care practice, in particular referral and intake, assessment and service planning, family foster care placement, the provision and monitoring of services, permanency planning, and discharge from family foster care and postplacement services.
CWLA Standards of Excellence for Health Care Services for Children in Out-of-Home Care
Child Welfare League of America
Outlines best practices standards for provision of health-care services that are arranged and monitored by public child welfare agencies or by voluntary agencies under contract to provide of out-of-home care services.
CWLA Standards of Excellence for Residential Services
Child Welfare League of America (2004)
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Presents guidelines for types of residential services, components of service and treatment, organizational structure, the service environment and necessary equipment, and community support. The standards review the characteristics of programs, purposes, services provided, duration, and staffing requirements.
CWLA Standards of Excellence for Transition, Independent Living, and Self-Sufficiency Services
Child Welfare League of America (2005)
Outlines best practices for preparing foster youth for adulthood. The standards address assessment and service delivery, program administration, the continuum of services and role of case management, and variety of living arrangements.
NARA Model Foster Care Standards
National Association for Regulatory Administration
Provides the national licensing standards family foster care homes.
Program Standards for Treatment Foster Care
Foster Family-based Treatment Association (2004)
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Presents 73 standards to assist agencies in establishing quality treatment foster care services for children and families. It explains the development of the Foster Family-based Treatment Association standards, key components of a treatment foster care program, and more.
State Standards and Capacity to Track Frequency of Caseworker Visits With Children in Foster Care (PDF - 1010 KB)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (2005)
Discusses findings of a study that investigated States' written standards for frequency of caseworker visits with children in foster care, the extent to which States could provide statewide automated reports on the frequency of caseworker visits, and the extent to which statewide reports indicate that children were visited.
State Standards and Practices for Content of Caseworker Visits With Children in Foster Care (PDF - 1,020 KB)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (2005)
Discusses findings of a study that investigated States' written standards for the content of caseworker visits with children in foster care and the practices of States that do not have written standards.
State and local examples
Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies (PDF - 1,683 KB)
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (2018)
Provides minimum standards developed through the administrative procedure of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies: Principles, Regulations, Procedures (PDF - 735 KB)
Alabama Department of Human Resources (2016)
Presents standards for licensed child placing facilities in Alabama.
Minimum Standards for Licensed, Private Child Placing Agencies (PDF - 49 KB)
Virginia Register of Regulations
Reports Virginia's minimum standards for licensed private child placing agencies.
Practice Guide for Locating and Involving Non-Custodial Parents, Alleged Fathers, and Relatives (PDF - 86 KB)
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (2007)
Provides minimum standards, guidance, and tools to help agencies identify, locate, and involve noncustodial parents, alleged fathers, and relatives as resources for children, especially children who have been removed from their homes.
Standards for Child-Placing Agencies
Kentucky Legislature
Reports the Kentucky Legislature standards for child placing agencies.