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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Residential Group Care
Contact the Florida Department of Health Residential Group Care Program
To Open a Group Home, Contact the Licensing Agency:
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*Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Adobe Reader may be required to view these files
Rule Revision
In June of 2023, the Department has restarted the rule revision process again for Chapter 64E-12, of the Florida Administrative Code. A Notice of Development of Rulemaking was advertised in the Florida Administrative Register. A draft copy of the proposed changes can be found here: Chapter 64E-12, Florida Administrative Code Proposed Draft.
What Is a Residential "Group Home"?
A “group home” is a generic term for various types of 24-hour residential group care facilities licensed by one of three other State Agencies: Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Department of Children and Families (DCF), and Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD).
The Department of Health (DOH) does not license any residential group care facilities(“group home”), nor provides placement services for residents seeking placement in the state of Florida, nor provides any type of funding for residential group care.
How to Open a Residential "Group Home"?
DOH receives many inquiries daily from the public who are looking for information on how to open a “group home.” DOH is not a primary licensing agency for a residential group care facility or “group home.” Additionally, DOH does not conduct any inspections at homes/facilities licensed by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD).
Anyone looking to open a “group home” needs to initially contact one of the following three primary licensing agencies to obtain information on how to open or receive a license from that agency:
- Agency for Health Care Administration for homes/facilities serving the elderly, the disabled and crisis stabilization mental health facilities. You may contact AHCA by phone at 850-412-4304 or visit their website: https://ahca.myflorida.com/MCHQ/index.shtml. To locate a facility, use the Facility Finder Location Search: https://www.floridahealthfinder.gov/facilitylocator/facloc.aspx
- Department of Children and Families for homes/facilities serving children or inpatient facilities providing drug, alcohol and mental health services. You may contact DCF Headquarters by phone at 850-487-1111 or visit their website: Community Based Care | Florida DCF (myflfamilies.com) and http://www.myflfamilies.com/contact-us.
- Agency for Persons with Disabilities for homes/facilities serving only individuals with disabilities. You may contact APD by phone at 850-488-4257 or visit their website: http://apdcares.org/. To locate a facility, use the APD Provider Facility Locator Search: https://flddresources.qlarant.com/ProviderSearch.aspx
Links to frequently asked questions regarding:
What Types of Residential Group Homes does DOH Inspect?
The specific residential group care facility types the DOH has inspection authority in are listed in section 381.006(16), Florida Statutes. The DOH residential group care facilities list includes the following: assisted living facility, adult family-care home, short-term residential treatment center, residential treatment facility, home for special services, transitional living facility, crisis stabilization unit, hospice, and intermediate care facility for persons with developmental disabilities.
- For the purpose of the DOH’s residential group care program, the term “Short-term Residential Treatment Center” includes the following DCF licensed residential facilities: addictions receiving facilities, detoxification, programs, and Residential Level 1, Residential Level 2, Residential Level 3, Residential Level 4, and Residential Level 5 programs.
- For the purpose of the DOH’s residential group care program, the term “Residential Treatment Facility (RTF)” includes AHCA licensed facilities which are community-based residences for individuals exhibiting symptoms of mental illness who are in need of a long-term structured living environment. These facilities were designed to provide long-term residential care with an overlay or coordination of mental health services. An AHCA state license covers five levels of care that range from having nurses on staff for 24 hours daily to independent apartment residences that receive only weekly staff contact.
What does an Environmental Health physical plant/group care inspection cover?
The Department of Health (DOH) inspects any DCF or AHCA licensed residential group care facility listed above using Chapter 64E-12, Florida Administrative Code. These DOH group care environmental health inspections are conducted once annually by environmental health field staff from the local county health department (CHD). While there is no state DOH fees related to annual residential group care environmental health inspections, more than half of Florida 67 local CHDs do have local inspection fees passed/approved through the local Board of County or City Commissioners. For information on local fees, please contact the local county health department directly.
In various residential facilities an environmental health inspection helps the facility ensure good sanitary health and safety practices are in place related to construction, operation, and maintenance among the residents, employees, and visitors to the facility. Our purpose is to prevent or minimize the risk of transmitting disease, injury, or bodily harm. The inspector will look throughout the facility to ensure it is being properly maintained.
The list below includes some of the primary areas the environmental health inspector checks for during their inspection visit.
- House Keeping
- Lighting
- Vermin/Animal Control
- Bed/Bedding
- Water Supply
- Liquid & Solid Waste
- Housing
- Sanitary Facilities
- Outdoor Area & Equipment
- Indoor equipment/furnishings
Areas Related To Disease Control and Injury Prevention Need Special Attention
- Food Hygiene & Sanitation
- Sanitary bedding
- Solid Waste/garbage
- Sanitary Facilities (Restrooms & Bathing Facilities)
- Repair and Upkeep
- Safe Outdoor Recreational Area
- Vector and Vermin Control
- Water Temperature
Good management practices for facility pest control and head lice information.
Information can be found at the University of Florida's web site Integrated Pest Management.
Physical Plant Inspection Rule, Frequency, and DOH Inspection Forms?
DOH Rules - Chapter 64E-12, Florida Administrative Code
Frequency: Once per year.
Form Used: DH 4029
Food Inspections?
The level of food hygiene standards that apply to the kitchen depend on the maximum number of residents the facility is approved to house.
10 or fewer beds:
DOH Rules - Chapter 64E-12, Florida Administrative Code
Frequency: Once per year as part of the physical plant inspection
Form Used: DH 4029
11 or more beds must apply for and obtain a food hygiene permit:
A state DOH food permit is needed when a facility serves food and has a maximum capacity of 11 residents or more. Prior to opening or operating, a set of plans drawn to scale and a completed food hygiene permit application must be submitted to the local county health department for a food hygiene plan review. There is a fee associated with the required plan review. To apply for a food hygiene permit, please go to the food hygiene website or contact your local county health department's environmental health section.
DOH Rules - Chapter 64E-11, Florida Administrative Code
Frequency: Once per quarter or as determined by the level of food service.
Form Used: DH 4023
Visit the Food Safety and Sanitation Webpage: https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/food-safety-and-sanitation/index.html
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