Welcome Yolo County Prospective Foster Parents,

We are so pleased that you have expressed an interest in opening your heart and home to a child in need.

The process for becoming a licensed foster parent can be somewhat daunting. Our goal is to make it as clear and simple as possible. To help you sort out the requirements, please use the following information as a Guide for completing the five principal steps involved in the process.

1. Resource Family Approval Educational Series:

Specific classes have been designed to help answer your questions, to understand the impact of abuse and neglect on children, and effective methods to navigate the child welfare and adoption systems. If more than one adult in a household is interested in becoming licensed, all are required to attend training. There is a total of 10 classes, 30 hours + CPR & First Aid.

Please review the schedule of “Resource Family Approval” classes.

2. Background Clearance (also known as Live Scan):

Each prospective foster parent and all other adults residing in the household must complete a criminal background clearance. You will notice on the form that you must have a “facility number. This number is given to you only after you have submitted your completed application to the State Community Care Licensing office.

3. Current Pediatric CPR/ First Aid Certificates:

Each prospective foster parent must have current pediatric CPR/ First Aid certificates. These courses are offered four times per year through the Woodland Community College Foster and Kinship Care Education program.  However, they are also available through your local Red Cross, fire station, or hospital.

4. Resource Family Approval Home Evaluation and Interview:

When the State Community Care Licensing office has accepted your application; the licensing analyst will contact you to schedule a home evaluation and family interview. The home evaluation allows the licensing analyst to meet you and to assess your home’s environment for safely accepting foster children. The Community Care Licensing Analyst for Yolo County, (916) 263-4700.

5. Foster Care Application:

All adults in the household who want their name on the Foster Care License, those who will be caring for the children placed, must complete the application. A few of the forms, will ask for a “Facility Name”. The “Facility Name” is the name of the primary applicant; usually the parent who is more involved in the child rearing.

Let us review each page of the Application Forms… a.) Foster Family Home Application This form provides Community Care Licensing with general information about your home. There are detailed instructions on the back of this form. If there is more than one applicant, both applicants must sign the document, the primary applicant always signs first. b.) Applicant Information You will find two of these forms. Every applicant must complete one form. For example, if you are married, you must complete one of the forms and your spouse the other. c. & d.) Criminal Record Statement You will find two of these forms. Again, each applicant must complete an individual form pursuant State law. If you have any sort of criminal conviction in your history, including a DUI, please indicate “Yes” and complete the questions on the back of the document. We encourage you to discuss this further with the licensing analyst, Susan Sadler. e.) Emergency Plan for Foster Family Homes In the event of an emergency; for example, your home loses water or electricity for several days, what is your plan? To assist you with completing this portion of the application, we have provided you with a list of all emergency telephone numbers, specific to each city (you do not need the phone number for a probation officer). f.) Health Screen Report You will find two of these forms. Each applicant must have the form completed. If your medical provider sees you regularly, and they are comfortable completing the form, you do not need to have a full physical examination. However, please have your physician state that he or she does not have any medical concerns that will affect your ability to become a foster parent. As a part of your Health Screen, each applicant must have a clear TB test that has been issued within 6 months of submitting your application. g.) Personal Rights of Children Please review the personal rights of foster children, on the back of this form. This form requires your signature; most often there is not a child in your home prior to placement; as such this part of the form should be left blank. Yolo Co. Foster Care Licensing Application Forms Please download ALL application forms on This Site Completed documents must be returned to: Licensing Program Analyst for Yolo County Foster Care Children's Residential Programs Community Care Licensing Division State of CA Dept. of Social Services 2525 Natomas Park Drive, No. 270, 19-35 Sacramento, CA 95833 (916) 263-4700 (916) 263-4744 Fax Helpful Information About Application Forms  Please read these before attempting to fill out the Application Forms Licensing Application Checklist for Yolo County Licensed Foster Parents Foster Family Home Application Instructions LIC 283A Licensing Questions & Answers.pdf Helpful Information for Completing.pdf 1 Core Message 2006.pdf Medi-Cal Provider List_chdp.pdf

If you have any further questions or require assistance with the application process, please
contact Nicki Hodel, Yolo County’s Recruitment and Retention Specialist at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You are welcome to mail the application directly to
our Licensing Analyst, or bring it with you to the Pre-Service classes. Thank you so much for
your efforts to make a difference in the life of a child through foster care.

Respectfully,
Cherie Schroeder
Director, Foster and Kinship Care Education
Serving Yolo County Foster, Kinship and Adoptive Families