Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon Health Authority logo

Adult Foster Homes

Overview

Purpose

Adult Foster Homes provide housing, services and assistance with activities for daily living in a home-like setting to adults diagnosed with a qualifying mental health condition. These are licensed, single family residences that offer culturally appropriate care and support for up to five adult residents. Providers or a resident manager live on site with residents.

Consider a New Career as a Mental Health Adult Foster Home Provider

There is a growing need for Adult Foster Homes across Oregon – an opportunity to open your home to help others. In some counties, there are few or no homes available to meet community needs. As a provider, you can:

  • Create a dynamic living environment for yourself and your residents.
  • Pursue your own interests and dreams.
  • Help others develop healthy lifestyles.

Interested in applying?

Explore the benefits of becoming a provider, what the work involves, and the steps to get licensed––including training and ongoing support:

Need help or have questions? Contact BHD.MH.Applications@oha.oregon.gov

Becoming an Adult Foster Home provider

What are adult foster homes?

They are single-family homes that provide 24-hour care for to up to five adults. Care includes:

  • Meals
  • Help with personal care
  • Monitoring health and behavior issues
  • Medications
  • Transportation
  • Care coordination

For each resident, adult foster homes must:

  • Provide the care they prefer and need.
  • Support independence, choice, dignity, and decision making.
  • Protect their rights and freedoms.
Some residents need little help. Others need regular monitoring and redirection.

Personal and financial benefits

Adult foster home providers can:

  • Earn $2,000 to $5,000 per month for each resident's care based on needs.
  • Run their own business from home.
  • Enhance their skills and grow in their chosen field.

Adult foster home providers may also qualify for tax benefits by serving Medicaid residents. To do this, they must:

  • Live in the adult foster home;
  • Enroll as an Oregon Medicaid provider; and
  • Complete a Provider Enrollment Agreement. 

Minimum requirements

To qualify for an adult foster home license in Oregon, providers must:

  • Be of good character;
  • Pass a background check;
  • Be at least 21 years of age;
  • Have a safe, structurally sound home;
  • Have the financial resources to operate the home for two months;
  • Be literate in written and spoken English;
  • Be physically and mentally able to provide care;
  • Have at least one year of full-time experience or equivalent part-time experience providing direct care and services to adults with mental illness;
  • Complete an adult foster home orientation; and
  • Complete 12 hours of training each year.

Licensing and Admission Requirements

Requirements

​AFHs are licensed annually. Additional inspections may be scheduled with or without advance notice to ensure continued compliance with the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) and Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS).

Persons who qualify for services must meet current guidelines, listed in the Adult Foster Home OARs.

Annual training requirements

Each year, the provider, resident manager, and substitute caregiver of an Adult Foster Home must complete at least 12 hours of training directly related to the care and services for persons with mental illness.

Training must be documented in the provider, resident manager, and substitute caregiver's training records.

This training is in addition to any orientation which is attended by applicants prior to licensing, and includes but is not limited to:

  • Understanding and Recognizing Severe and Persistent Mental Illness
  • Mandatory Abuse Reporting
  • Medication Management, Dispensing, and Documentation
  • Incident Report Writing
  • Resident Rights
  • Adult Foster Home Emergency Planning
  • Fire Safety
  • Complaints and Grievances
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid

Find approved training courses for Adult Foster Homes.

Resources

Long-Term Care Community Nursing (LTCCN) - Use the "LTCCN Provider List" on this page to find Registered Nurses (RNs) for RN delegation.

Forms

  
  
6/26/2025AFH Variance Form
10/28/2025AFH Renewal Application Form
7/1/2025AFH Notice of Involuntary Transfer.Discharge Form Less Than 30 6.25.2025
7/1/2025AFH Notice of Involuntary Transfer.Discharge Form 6.25.25
6/27/2025AFH Initial License Application Form 100125
6/26/2025AFH Home Alone Variance Form
7/1/2025AFH Administrative Hearing Request 6.25.25

Other Resources

  
  
9/25/2025AFH-Licensing-Steps
10/28/20242023-2025 SEIU Non State AFH Collective Bargaining Agreement

Contacts

If you are interested in placement at an AFH, please contact your local community mental health program. For more information on licensing, please contact an AFH compliance specialist:

  
  
Region
  
Blanca Barocio971-388-7156Willamette Valley
Lisa Bersani971-433-7918Willamette Valley
Brian Clark503-979-4504Portland Metro (tri-counties)
Josh Fisher971-292-8531Portland Metro (tri-counties), Statewide
Clayton Getzinger971-239-7435Southern Oregon
Chris Judson503-877-7533Southern Oregon
Patrick Woods971-240-7554Willamette Valley