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I/DD Child Foster Home Overview

About the I/DD child foster home program 

  • Child foster homes are for children with intellectual or developmental disabilities (CFH-IDD).
  • Children between the ages of birth to 18 years old. The range of support is widely varied, and individual plans are developed to address the specific needs of the children in care.
  • Child Foster Homes are single-family residences that offer 24-hour care in a home-like setting that is safe and secure.
  • Homes serve four to seven children, depending on the number of certified adults living in the home.​

The goal of the CFH-IDD is to provide necessary care and support while emphasizing effective child-rearing practices to enable a child placed in the foster home to grow, develop and build positive personal relationships and self-esteem.

The goal is reached through a cooperative relationship between the provider, the child, the child's legal representative and the Community Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP) service coordinator. The CFH-IDD provides a setting for the child that encourages nurturing, support and promotes the mental and physical development and emotional needs.​

Child foster home providers provide meals, transportation to appointments and other activities, medication management, assistance with activities of daily living, personal care, mobility and household activities. Support is also provided for behavioral challenges, implementation of nursing care, behavior support and individual support plans.​

CFH-IDD homes in Oregon are inspected and licensed prior to receiving children for care and then every two years to maintain certification. The CDDP certifiers and Regional staff work closely with the certified provider to assure these activities are completed. CDDP certifiers work with the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) to assure that all aspects of certification are complete and to provide technical assistance as needed. Certificates are issued by ODHS. OAR 411-346 governs the operations of the CFH-IDD.​​

Every applicant for a CFH-IDD license must meet certain standards in order to operate a CFH-IDD.

Minimum requirements to become a certified provider include:

  • Being responsible, stable, emotionally mature adults who exercise sound judgment
  • Passing an abuse and criminal background check
  • Being 21 years of age or older
  • Living in a home that meets the structural and safety requirements of OAR 411-346​
  • ​Having the financial resources required to open and operate the CFH-IDD
  • Not being related to the children by birth, marriage or adoption
  • Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of positive, non-punitive discipline, and build positive personal relationships, self-control and self-esteem
  • Being mentally and physically capable of providing care
  • Successfully completing a minimum of 15 hours of pre-service training prior to certification
  • Have the interest, motivation and ability to nurture children with developmental disabilities

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements listed above, further requirements are needed to be certified for children with significant medical needs:

  • Current satisfactory references from at least two medical professionals, such as a physician and registered nurse who have direct knowledge of the applicant's ability and past experiences as a caregiver;
  • A positive written recommendation from the department's Medically Fragile Children's Unit (MFCU) if the provider or application has provided services through MFCU or has historically received services through the MFCU for a child in their family home or foster home;
  • Current certification in First Aid and CPR. The CPR training must be done by a recognized training agency and the CPR certificate must be appropriate to the ages of the children served in the foster home;
  • Copies of all medical related licenses or certificates must be provided to the certifying agency;
  • Six hours of medical training beyond CPR and First Aid training as appropriate to the ages of the children served in the foster home; or
  • Licensed as a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, emergency medical technician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant.

  1. Contact the local CDDP certification staff​ ​in the county where the child foster home will be located.
  2. Complete a CFH-IDD orientation as scheduled and provided by the CDDP office.
  3. Complete an initial application packet and submit to your local certifier.
  4. Complete inspection of the home.
  5. Make corrections as required on the initial inspection.
  6. Submit completed application materials to your certifier, who will submit to ODHS for approval of the certification.
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​Once the county receives the signed and dated application by the applicant the clock starts ticking and the applicant and certifier have 60 days to complete the certification process.​

  • Losing some privacy as individuals reside in the home of the provider
  • Experiencing medical and behavioral challenges or crises that may result in injury or death of the child
  • Needing to physically assist children
  • Criminal background records may prohibit some individuals from having access to your home, or employment in your home, regardless of existing relationship
  • Documentation requirements that include maintaining and keeping up to date medical, financial, personnel and individual child records
  • Ability to support foster children may be limited based on the number of other individuals in the home who require care, including biological children or adult family members​​

B​asic CFH-IDD homes must meet minimum qualifications and support children who have support needs in the areas os personal care, education, transportation, medication management and activities of daily living. All children served in Basic CFH-IDD homes participate in educational programs, socialization and activities to promote growth and development. Basic child foster care homes may serve children with behavioral challenges as approved by the CDDP. A provider intending to serve children with significant medical needs will need to obtain a certification for children with significant medical needs.

Prior to placement, the child's service payments are determined by a Support Needs Assessment Profile (SNAP). The assessment bases the service payment on the child's specific needs, as determined by the profile.

Yes. Prior to entry into a foster care home, you should receive referral information from the local CDDP service coordinator. The CFH-IDD provider should review this material prior to setting up a screening, or meeting, designed to introduce the child and ask questions about the level of care. The CFH-IDD provider can also show the child and guardian around the residence at this time. Should the provider, child and guardian/representative agree to placement, an entry meeting will be scheduled and transition activities should begin.​​

No. CFH-IDD providers can only receive payment to provide care to children who are not related to them.​​

Every CFH-IDD provider should obtain a copy of OAR 411-346​ at the time of orientation. ​

The rules come from Oregon Revised Statutes (or laws) that govern child foster care. They tell the provider about the expectations of care, facility requirements, provider qualifications, documentation requirements and grievance and investigation procedures. Home inspections are based on the OARs, so it is best to always be familiar with the expectations.

Lack of compliance with OARs can result in inactive referral status, suspension, revocation or refusal to renew certification.

CDDP service coordinators should visit the home on a monthly basis if five individuals are served in the home, less is there are fewer individuals. The site visits are opportunities to review the operations of the home, meet with the provider and individuals and provide technical assistance. Certification staff will visit at least once every two years for certification inspections, but may have follow-up meetings to assist in the correction of violations and/or provide technical assistance. CFH-IDD providers must comply with the inspections.​

Complaints are directed to the local CDDP. There, complaints are addressed and resolved. If they can't be resolved at the local level, there is a process to move the complaint along to higher levels of authority.

If a complaint indicates a protective service action, an investigation may be opened with the local Child Welfare office. You must comply with all investigation activities. Substantiated allegations may result in denial, suspension, revocation or refusal to renew the certificate. If this happens, the CFH-IDD provider has the right to a hearing to appeal the decision.

All CFH-IDD providers and caregivers are mandatory abuse reporters and must report to the CDDP and Child Welfare any instances of suspected abuse or neglect.​​

N​o. Providers are required to live a the certified child foster home.