Foster Parent Right:To Request A Transfer

A caregiver has the right to request to transfer the foster care license from one agency to another agency, from a private agency to DCFS, or from DCFS to a private agency.

Caregivers sometimes decide to transfer their license in these situations:
• the current agency does not have a specific program which matches their skills, abilities and/or interests. Example: Caregivers with skills or the desire to foster medically complex children might decide to transfer to an agency with a specific foster care program for medically complex children; or
• they are extremely dissatisfied with their current agency’s service, support, or foster care program, and feel they have exhausted avenues of complaint within their current supervising agency or DCFS region. 

An agency or DCFS region is not required to accept the transfer of a foster parent license, but will be more likely to consider accepting the transfer if:
• the caregiver is in good standing with the current supervising agency or DCFS region;
• caregiver’s skills and interests match the needs of children within the foster care program/s;
• there is not a pending licensing investigation or a licensing corrective action plan in place;
• the foster family does not have children currently placed with them; or
• adoption of children currently placed with the foster family is not pending.

If the new agency or DCFS region decides to accept the transfer, the new agency will:
• ask the caregiver to sign a form authorizing their current agency to release their fi le to the new agency;
• send the signed consent form to the current agency with a letter requesting the foster family file; and
• submit the transfer to DCFS for approval

Automatic Transfer of License by DCFS

DCFS monitors the performance and quality of services provided by all contracted private child welfare agencies. If an agency’s services do not meet DCFS quality standards, DCFS has the right to cancel the agency’s contract. If this happens, foster families supervised by the agency will receive a letter from DCFS explaining that the agency’s contract has been cancelled and naming the new agency responsible for the supervision of the foster family and the children placed with them. In this case, DCFS will automatically transfer the foster care license to the new supervising agency and the new agency will contact the foster family.

Caregivers should expect the new agency to visit them to:
• welcome and orient them to the new agency’s policies and procedures; and
• ensure licensing standards are being followed.

NOTE: Licenses are not to be transferred during the licensing renewal process (6 months prior to expiration) unless prior approval is received by the agency from DCFS’ Central Office of Licensing.