Placement

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)

• Residential & LCPA Licensing Regional Contacts Map
• 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
• Diagnostic and Evaluations Programs Map
• Teen Mother and Baby Residential Programs 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
  • 2020 LCPA Contract
    • 2022 LCPA Contract Amendment & Extension
• FFPSA & QRTP Tools & Resources
  • Standard Aftercare Definition & Service Description
    • Aftercare Addendum (Updated 2/4/22)
  • Qualified Residential Treatment Programs - List of Designated QRTP and QRTP-Exempt Programs
• Monthly Meeting Minutes 
  • LCPA Provider Monthly Meeting
  • Residential Provider Monthly Meeting
• Plan of Correction (POC) Process Maps
  • POC Process Map
  • POC Follow-Up Map
• 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
  • Medical Passport
  • Request for Administrative Hearing - Residential License Denial or Revocation (SF 57115)
  • Root Cause Analysis Resources
    • Framework for Root Cause Analysis
    • Framework for Root Cause Analysis - Example
• Rates/Fiscal Information
  • Rate Structure for ESC Placements Lasting Less than 48 Hours
  • 2023 LCPA Bulletin 2021-1 Updated with PPP
  • 2023 Residential Treatment Services Provider Rates Bulletin 2021-1 Updated with PPP
• Service Standards
  • Standard for 1:1 Staffing Ratio in a Residential Setting
  • Provider Manual: Child Placing Agency Rates
  • Psychotropic Medication Review Guidance
  • Residential Program Categories and Standards
  • LCPA Blended Caseload Letter (July 2021) - Effective 1/01/2022
  • Service Standards (Residential, LPCA Foster Home & Group Home programs)
• Vendor Profile Attachments
  • Vendor Profile Attachments Provider Quick Start Guide
  • Vendor Profile Attachment Guide  - Provider Instructions- PDF

Foster Care

Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)

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

Placement Archive