The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) licenses foster family homes, licensed child placing agencies, child caring institutions, group homes and private secure facilities.

If you are interested in becoming a licensed provider, please view the Becoming a Licensed Provider page.

If you are a parent or placing agency and wish to find additional information regarding current licensure status of a provider, please contact the DCS Residential Licensing Unit at the Residential Licensing Email Box .

General Information about Licensing

• Types of Licenses
• Indiana Administrative Code, Article 2. Child Welfare Services

Resources for Family Case Managers (FCMs) and Probation Officers (POs)

• Emergency Shelter Care Map
• Programs for Sexually Harmful Children and Young Adults Map
• Substance Use Disorder Programs Map
• Programs for youth with Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD) Map

• Agencies currently licensed:
  • Licensed Child Placing Agencies
  • Licensed Child Caring Institutions
  • Licensed Group Homes
  • Licensed Private Secure Facilities

Resources for Licensed Agencies & Facilities

• Background Checks
  • Residential Licensing Protocol for Background Check Audits
  • Indiana DCS Background Check webpage
• Contracts
  • 2021 Residential Contract (updated January 2021)
  • 2020 LCPA Contract
• FFPSA & QRTP Tools & Resources
  • Standard Aftercare Definition & Service Description (Added July 2021)
    • Aftercare Addendum (Added July 2021)
  • Qualified Residential Treatment Programs - List of Designated Programs (Updated 7/26/21)
• Plan of Correction (POC) Process Maps
  • POC Process Map
  • POC Follow-Up Map (current process)
• Policies and Forms
  • Application for Private Secure Facility, Child Caring Institution, or Group Home Waiver/Variance (SF 57073)
  • DCS Residential Facility Compliance
  • Chapter 17 Residential Licensing Policies (coming soon!)
  • Medical Passport
  • Request for Administrative Hearing - Residential License Denial or Revocation (SF 57115)
• Rates/Fiscal Information
  • Rate Structure for ESC Placements Lasting Less than 48 Hours
• Service Standards
  • Standard for 1:1 Staffing Ratio in a Residential Setting (Added July 2021)
  • Provider Manual: Child Placing Agency Rates
  • Psychotropic Medication Review Guidance
  • Residential Program Categories and Standards (updated February 2021)
  • Service Standards (Residential, LPCA Foster Home & Group Home programs)
• Vendor Profile Attachments
  • Vendor Profile Attachments Provider Quick Start Guide (updated January 2020)

Foster Care

Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)

International and Cultural Affairs (including Immigration and the Indian Child Welfare Act)

Placement Archive