| |
What is this?
The Bureau of Licensing conducts a licensing program for the Department of Social Services (DSS), as mandated by the different licensing laws, that give a measure of protection to the children and adults of the state who are in care on a regular or consistent basis. This measure of protection covers the health, safety, and well-being of individuals being cared for.
These are the programs that are licensed by the Department of Social Services Licensing Bureau, along with a definition of each program type:
- Child Day Care Center - any place or facility operated by any institution, society, agency, corporation, person or persons, or any other group for the primary purpose of providing care, supervision, and guidance of 7 or more children, not including those related to the caregiver, unaccompanied by parent or guardian, on a regular basis for at least 12 1/2 hours in a continuous 7-day week. Related or relative is defined as the natural or adopted child or grandchild of the caregiver or a child in the legal custody of the caregiver.
- Adult Residential Facility - a public or privately operated (24 hour) residence that provides personal assistance, lodging and meals for compensation to 2 or more adults who are unrelated to the residence licensee, owner, or director.
- Child Residential Facility - any place, facility or home operated by any institution, society, agency, corporation, person or persons or any other group to provide full-time care (24 hour residential care) for 4 or more children under the age of 18 years who are not related to the operators, and whose parents or guardians are not residents of the same facility, with or without transfer of custody.
- Adoption Agency - a child-placing agency that places children in a family household of one or more persons that has been approved by the agency to accept a child for adoption.
- Child Foster Care Agency - a child placing agency that places children into an approved family foster home for a planned period of substitute care when their own families cannot or will not care for them. Substitute Family Care Programs are no longer licensed by the Department of Social Services
- Emergency Shelter - a person, group, or organization operating one or more facilities established for the purpose of providing 24-hour emergency shelter care on a regular basis to children under age 18. Children are considered candidates for emergency shelter care when they are in danger of abuse or severe neglect or when they are abandoned either purposely or by events beyond the control of their caretaker. Children shall not be retained more than 45 days in emergency shelter care. There can be two renewals of 30 days each by written agreement between the emergency shelter and the placing party.
- Maternity Home - any place or facility in which any institution, society, agency, corporation, person or persons, or any other group regularly receives and provides necessary services for children before, during, and immediately following birth. This definition shall not include any place or facility which receives and provides services for women who receive maternity care in the home of a relative within the sixth degree of kindred, computed according to civil law, or general or special hospitals in which maternity treatment and care is part of the medical services performed and the care of children only brief and incidental.
- Transitional Youth Residence - any communal or supervised independent living arrangement existing for the primary purpose of providing care for at least 2 but less than 20 youths living in individualized apartment units, alone or jointly with other youths, under the supervision, custody or control, directly or indirectly, of the state.
Do I qualify?The licensing regulations for the programs listed below are available on-line by selecting a program type. Documents are available in Adobe Acrobat and are viewable in all formats. To view the documents, please download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader at: http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html)
How & where do I apply?
A license application form can be obtained by visiting one of these links:
The completed application form should be submitted to:
Department of Social Services
Bureau of Licensing
P.O. Box 3078
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Phone: (225) 342-9905
FAX: (225) 342-9690
An initial application fee of $25.00 is required with the application form. This non-refundable fee will be applied toward the license fee when the facility is licensed. All fees are to be paid by certified check or money order made payable to the Department of Social Services. Do NOT send cash, business or personal checks.
After the completed application has been received by the Bureau of Licensing, the Bureau will request that inspections be made by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Office of Public Health, Sanitarian Services, and any other appropriate local agencies (Zoning Department, City Fire Department, etc.). Even though the Bureau of Licensing makes these requests, it is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain the inspections and get the approvals.
After the application form and initial fee have been received and processed, you will be contacted by the DSS Licensing Bureau to schedule the initial inspection survey by a Licensing Specialist. All of the appropriate agencies listed above must give their approval prior to licensure and occupancy. Any additional licensure fees are due after the initial survey and prior to issuance of a license.
Related LinksThe Bureau of Community Supports and Services in the Department of Health and Hospitals currently licenses Adult Day Health Care and Case Management Agencies that provide services for MR/DD Waiver, Elderly/Disabled Adult Waiver, H.I.V. Targeted Population, and Nurse Home Visitation Program. Visit the link below to view the website for the Bureau of Community Supports and Services:
Bureau of Community Supports & Services |
