Frequently Asked Questions

• Applicants must live in Washington County and be at least 18 years of age.
• Applicants must complete all application forms and participate in home study interviews.
• Bedrooms in the home must meet size requirements. (View the answer to FAQ question #4)
• Applicants and household members aged 13 years and older must pass a criminal and social service background study.
• Applicant's home must pass a fire marshal inspection.
• Applicants must complete required orientation and vulnerable adult training.

Washington County occasionally opens an interest survey when there’s a need for more family adult foster care providers. The survey is available for a limited time. If you'd like to be notified when it goes live, please set an alert on this page.

• Applicants can live in single- or multi-family dwellings; they can own or rent.
• If renting, the landlord must consent to a fire marshal inspection.
• All homes must pass the fire marshal inspection and meet all building codes.
• The home must be clean and in good order.

• Single occupancy bedrooms must be at least 80 square feet; not counting the closet.
• A ceiling height of 7.5 feet.
• The bedroom must be separated from halls, corridors, and other rooms by floor-to-ceiling walls.
• Bedrooms must not serve as a pathway to another room.

• Bedroom size requirements. (View the answer to FAQ question #4)
• A clean mattress in good repair.
• Two sets of bedding for each of the residents: Mattress pad, fitted sheet, top sheet, blanket or comforter, pillowcase, and pillow.
• At least three wash cloths and three bath towels per resident.
• A dresser.
• A closet/wardrobe.
• A mirror in the bedroom.

• Payment for foster care depends on the person's financial resources and program eligibility.
• Some persons may pay the entire cost of care through their own financial resources such as savings and social security income.
• Other persons may be eligible for state/federal programs which provide financial assistance to pay for the cost of foster care.
• More information about payments is provided at an informational meeting during the licensing process.

How much you’ll be paid depends on how the individual’s care is funded:

• Private Pay: If the person is paying out of pocket, you can negotiate the rate directly with them.
• State/Federal Assistance: If the person receives public assistance, the county will assess their needs and determine the payment amount.
• Room & Board Rates: Monthly room and board rates for individuals receiving assistance are listed on this website.

• All persons seeking family adult foster care are assessed by a case manager to determine their need for foster care.
• To qualify for foster care, the person must have a "functional impairment" which means they have problems with walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, learning, or severe mental health issues which affects their ability to care for themselves.
• Persons with physical aggression or extremely high medical needs are usually not appropriate for family adult foster care.

• Being licensed as a provider does not guarantee that someone will be placed in your home. Your licensing worker may receive placement requests from individuals, and if your home is a good fit, they’ll reach out to you with more information.
• You’re also encouraged to promote your program independently. You can connect with nursing homes, senior living centers, or community organizations to share information about your home. If someone contacts you directly about placement, you must refer them to your licensor to begin the formal process.

• The kind of person you will serve depends on your home, your skills, and your abilities.
• Your licensing worker will help you decide what types of clients match the services you are able to offer.
• All persons seeking family adult foster care must be assessed by a case manager to determine that they qualify for foster care.

No, you cannot be licensed to care for a close relative.

• If you are giving up a full-time job to care for a closely related person who is over 65 years of age, you may qualify for certification which is granted by the county board of commissioners.

Adult foster care regulations require that a caregiver be present in the home during typical sleeping hours. The level of supervision needed varies depending on each individual's abilities and support needs. Some individuals may require around-the-clock care, while others are able to stay home alone or participate in community activities independently. Providers must be prepared to adjust supervision as those needs change over time.

The licensed provider must be the primary caregiver. If your residents require more help than the licensed provider can provide, you can hire people to help you care for your residents.  All caregivers must be at least 18 years old and must complete a background study and specific training.

The home which is licensed must be your primary residence.  It would be a violation if you or your family moves out of your licensed home and this could result in your license being revoked..

• Persons who are non-ambulatory must have a bedroom on a level of the home with an exit directly to grade.
  • This means there must be a door that goes right outside, no stairs or chairlifts.

We recommend you do some research regarding the type of people you wish to work with, such as people with brain injuries, Alzheimer's, mental illness, or intellectual or developmental disabilities.  You will be a better provider if you have a broader understanding of the people you want to serve.  There is no other training required before applying.

• Before accepting a placement, all licensed adult foster care providers must complete orientation training. After that, ongoing training is required each year:
  • If you have up to five years of experience, you’ll need 12 hours of annual training.
  • If you have six or more years of experience, the requirement drops to six hours annually.
  • If you provide care for no more than 30 days in a year and work eight hours or less per week, your training requirements may be different.

• Washington County encourages all providers to go beyond the minimum training. Additional education can help you grow as a caregiver and provide the highest quality support to those in your home.