Resource Family Approval Program (RFA)

RFA is a new family-friendly and child-centered caregiver approval process that combines elements of the current foster parent licensing, relative approval, and approvals for adoption and guardianship processes and replaces those processes. RFA:

• Is streamlined and eliminates the duplication of existing processes.
• Unifies approval standards for all caregivers, regardless of the child’s case plan.
• Includes a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, home environment check, and training for all families, including relatives.
• Prepares families to better meet the needs of vulnerable children in the foster care system.
• Allows seamless transition to permanency.

Topics on this Page (Click to Jump)

• AARS: County Resource Family Approval AARS Quick Guide
• All County Letters
• Background Checks
• Contact Lists (County and CDSS RFA Staff)
• Continuum of Care Reform
• Family Evaluations
• Forms
• Funding
• Implementation of the RFA Program
• Placements Prior to Approval
• Quality Parenting Initiative
• Relative Placements and RFA (Information for Judges & Attorneys)
• Specialized RFA Families
• Statewide Technical Assistance Calls
• Technical Assistance RFA Meetings (TARFA)
• Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 16519.5
• Written Directives

The RFA and the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) support the Continuum of Care Reform (CCR).

The RFA process improves the way caregivers (related and non-related) of children in foster care are approved and prepared to parent vulnerable children, whether temporarily or permanently.

The QPI, in partnership with caregivers, aims to redesign child welfare organizations at the local level to better recruit, support and retain quality foster caregivers who can effectively parent vulnerable children and youth.

Together, the RFA and QPI efforts work to build the capacity of the continuum of foster care placement options to better meet the needs of vulnerable children in home based family care. This increased capacity is essential to successfully moving children out of congregate care, which is a goal of CCR.

• Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 16519.5
• RFA Placements Prior to Approval Audio Presentation
• RFA QPI California Training Video

Kim Wrigley, RFA and Communications Bureau Chief, goes over some common misconceptions about the family evaluation process while providing best practices when working with a family.
Demystifying the Family Evaluation Process