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Licensed Providers
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Updated Residential Facility License (07.20.11)
DCFS Licensing has issued an updated application for license to operate a child residential facility, child placing agency or maternity home.
Review Emergency Preparedness Plans (05.03.11)
DCFS is closely monitoring the situation regarding potential flooding on the Mississippi River and Louisiana's other waterways. Additionally, severe storms have recently impacted several parishes and hurricane season is now less than a month away. DCFS would like to remind providers to ensure that written procedures for emergencies and evacuations are updated and that you and your staff are adequately trained, equipped, and prepared in the event a hurricane or other disaster occurs.
Revised Criminal Records Requirements for Child Care Facilities (05.03.11)
Revised clarification to providers related to acceptable documentation of criminal records checks for Staff, Independent Contactors, Dept. of Education Employees, Early Start Service Providers, and CASA Volunteers and Staff.
Criminal Records Requirements for Child Care Facilities (02.11.11)
Clarification to providers related to acceptable documenation of criminal records checks for Staff, Independent Contactors, Dept. of Education Employees, Early Start Service Providers, and CASA Volunteers and Staff.
LIST OF NATIONALLY ACCREDIATED RESTRAINT PROGRAMS (02.02.10)
Child Residential Standards (7115.E.8) mandates that restraints are only to be used by employees trained by a certified trainer under a program that is on a state-recognized list of nationally accredited programs.
Rule Change effecting Child Placing and Transitional Living Providers (12.13.10)
Licensing Section is providing notice of its intent to repeal and amend sections of the LAC to comply with Act 64 of the 2010 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Child Placing and Transitional Living Licensing regulations have been consolidated and rewritten and will be promulgated as Title 67, Part V., Subpart 8, Chapter 73, Child Placing Agencies.
Residential Licensing has moved (11.05.10)
Residential Licensing has consolidated offices with Child Care Licensing to form the DCFS Licensing Section. Please note our new contact information listed below:
DCFS Licensing
P.O. Box 3078
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
(225) 342-9905
(225) 342-9483
Guidelines for Reporting Critical Incidents (10.01.10)
DCFS Licensing has released guidelines to Residential Care providers for reporting critical incidents that occur in a facility.
Performance-Based Contracts (07.26.10)
DCFS is moving toward a continuum of care service delivery method that is aimed to meet the needs of children and families. On June 30, 2010, DCFS held a meeting with current providers and individuals interested in providing child residential, foster care, or independent living services where they were introduced to the concept of performance based contracts and the role they will play in the process. The participants were also presented with an overview of the inter agency Coordinated System of Care initiative.
- Performance-based contract presentation
- Coordinated system of care presentation
- Overview of June 30th meeting including questions and answers
Child Placing Agency Annual Statistical Report (06.11.10)
This notification is to remind licensed Child Placing Agencies that the annual statistical report required by LAC 48:4105.I.4 is to be submitted to the Licensing section by August 31st of each year. Please use the form (link to form) provided to report your agency’s child placement activities for the period covering July 1st through June 30th of the current state fiscal year.
State Central Registry and Risk Evaluation Panel Assessment (04.26.10)
Reminder for all DSS-licensed care providers to have on file a properly completed SCR-1 for all staff hired prior to January 1, 2010. If any staff file does not have this form, complete it immediately. If a staff member discloses that he/she does have a valid finding recorded on the SCR, follow the steps outlined in the January 25, 2010, letter.
Declaration of Emergency (09.04.09, updated 03.15.10)
DSS, OFS and OCS have exercised the emergency provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act to ensure that substandard facilities providing out-of-home care for children and elderly or infirmed adults that have had their licensed revoked cannot immediately reapply for a new license. As stated in the Declaration of Emergency, "allowing facilities whose compliance with state law have consistently fallen below minimum standards of care to reapply poses a substantial risk of harm to children and elderly or infirmed adults in outof-home care on a regular basis, and an emergency rule is necessary to prevent this imminent threat to the public health, safety and welfare."
- Declaration of Emergency
- Letter sent to Residential License holders
- Response to Public Comments On DSS Licensing Proposed Disqualification Rule (Added 03.15.10)
OCS Residential Licensing Circulars
State Central Registry and Risk Evaluation Panel (01.28.10)
In a letter sent to residential care providers, DSS provides information relative to residential provider compliance requirements with recent legislation (ACT 388).
- Read the full letter
- State Central Registry Forms
- Frequently Asked Questions
Licensing Enforcement Action Information (11.12.09)
In a letter sent to residential care providers, DSS announced a new order to achieve more effective and consistent enforcement decisions and actions in care licensing. As part of this new system for evaluating non-compliance in a more quantitative and qualitative manner, DSS will be reviewing and charting the history of compliance for each licensed center based on new criteria: Serious, Numerous, and Repeated non-compliance.
H1N1 Flu Reporting for Residential Care (09.03.09)
Report cases of flu-like symptoms in your Residential Care center.
Renewal Applications
For renewals, the completed application and annual fee must be submitted to OCS at least 30 calendar days prior to the anniversary date of the current license.
A renewal license will be issued if, upon investigation, the provider continues to meet and maintain the minimum licensing standards and the annual licensing fee is paid.
If the application for renewal and fee are not received timely (30 days prior to the anniversary date) and the application is not completed thoroughly and accurately, the provider's license will expire on the expiration date shown on the license. If the provider continues to operate the facility after the expiration date, the provider will be reported to the DSS General Counsel for operating an unlicensed facility.
A license must be renewed on an annual basis. The month of issue of the initial license becomes the anniversary month for all renewals. Generally all licenses expire on the last day of the month. This expiration date will be printed at the bottom of the license.
What should residential care providers do in the event of emergency?
In preparation for hurricane season and other emergencies, including natural and man made disasters, OCS Residential Licensing and Regulatory Services requires all Adult Residential providers to verify readiness. All licensed Adult Residential providers must use the DSS online Emergency Preparedness reporting system. Register with OCS to obtain a user ID and password to access the system.
In the event that a hurricane or other disaster occurs and produces widespread evacuation and extensive property damage, action may need to be taken to help ensure the safety of all individuals being cared for by licensed providers. If a disaster occurs and you are in one of the AFFECTED PARISHES, it may be necessary to suspend your license WITHOUT NOTICE until your facility or home can be verified as safe to provide care. This may be accomplished by a required State Fire Marshall inspection, State Health inspection, on-site Licensing inspection and/or other agency-mandated procedure to ensure the safety of the adults and/or children in your care. Your license would remain suspended until your facility is verified as safe.
If such a disaster occurs, you should check the DSS home page (www.dss.louisiana.gov) to determine if your facility or home is located in an affected parish and for additional information and instructions in the procedures for re-instatement of your license. In addition, licensed providers should contact the OCS Residential Licensing and Regulatory Services at (225) 342-9734 as soon as possible once the hurricane or event has passed if instructions on how to reinstate your license is not available on the Web site.
