National & NARA Model Licensing Standards Resources

On February 4, 2019, the Children’s Bureau released final National Model Foster Family Home Licensing Standards (National Model), as required by the Family First Prevention Services Act.

Memo by the ABA Center on Children and the Law and Generations United examining the federal and state laws that prevent kinship caregivers from becoming licensed based on previous criminal convictions. The memo analyzes state laws and policies related to criminal licensing barriers and explores opportunities to change these policies based on the recent federal rule allowing kin-specific licensing standards.

Editable version of the crosswalk tool developed to allow states to compare their current foster care licensing standards with the Model National Family Foster Home Licensing Standards and the NARA Model Licensing Standards.  Updated 2019.

The proposed Model National Family Foster Home Licensing Standards are a requirement of the Family First Prevention Services Act. This resource was developed jointly by National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA), Generations United & American Bar Association (ABA) Center on Children and the Law to assist those who wish to comment on these proposed standards (September 2018).