Background Screening

Background Screening

Background Screening

   Overview

The Florida Department of Children and Families licenses and regulates programs for children and vulnerable adults. Part of this process is a required Level II Background Screening pursuant to Chapter 435, Florida Statute. Each year the Department completes over 225,000 screenings to ensure the safety of the vulnerable.

   Navigating the Background Screening Resources

   Child Care Comprehensive Background Check Resources

PROVIDERS: For instructions on how to use the new Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Results Website (CRW).

Provider Login

PROVIDERS: For instructions on how to use the new Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Results Website (CRW).

Clearinghouse Results Website Guide

For information pertaining to the Care Provider Background Screening Education and Awareness website.

Clearinghouse Education and Awareness

Have any questions or concerns? Please reach out to us at the following number or address.

Youth and Young Adults

The Department of Children and Families recognizes that the transition into adulthood can be tough for young people. For current and former foster youth, it can be even more difficult without an existing support system. The Office of Continuing Care, part of Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity, offers free, one-on-one help for young people who are about to or have recently transitioned out of foster care, aiming to make the leap into adulthood a positive experience. You can reach the Office of Continuing Care at (833) GET-HOPE or (833) 438-4637.

Learn More

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Program Type
(Who Needs to be Screened)
Statutory Reference
Child Abuse and Neglect Checks
Out of State Criminal History
State and National Criminal History Review
Additional Permanent Disqualifying Offenses
Child Care
Child care facility, family day care home, child enrichment service provider, or volunteers that assist over 10 hours a month.
402.302
✔
✔ (Federal Requirement)
✔
✔
Child Placement
Family Foster home, residential child caring agency, child placing agency, volunteers that assist over 10 hours a month.
409.175 and 39.0138
✔*
 
✔
✔
Summer Camps
Summer or recreation camp owners, operators, employees, or volunteers that assist over 10 hours a month.
409.175
 
 
✔
 
Mental Health
Employees within mental health facilities and employees', directors, professional clinicians, staff members and volunteers assist over 10 hours a month.
394.4572 and 408.809
 
 
✔
 
Substance Use Disorders
All owners, directors, and chief financial officers of service providers, or personnel who have direct contact with children receiving services or with adults who are developmentally disabled. A volunteer who assists on an intermittent basis that totals 40 or more hours per month.
397.4073 and 408.809
 
 
✔
 
Peer Specialists
Persons, or a family member of a person, who have been in recovery from a substance use disorder or mental illness for at least 2 years
397.417
 
 
✔
 
Recovery Residences
Residential dwelling unit, the community housing component of a licensed day or night treatment facility with community housing, or other form of group housing, that provides a peer-supported, alcohol-free, and drug-free living environment.
397.487
 
 
✔
 
Recovery Residence Administrators
Person responsible for overall management of the recovery residence, including, but not limited to, the supervision of residents and staff employed by, or volunteering for, the residence. Requires certification.
397.4871
 
 
✔
 
Certification for Persons with Lived Experience
A person may seek certification as a person with lived experience if he or she has received homeless services.
420.621
 
 
✔
 

*Only for Residential Group Home owners, operators, and employees

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Criminal histories must be evaluated to determine if the applicant has any specified offenses prohibited under any provision of state law or similar law of another jurisdiction. This would include out of state and federal offenses. In accordance with section 435.04, F.S. for level 2 background screenings, if an applicant has been arrested for and is awaiting final disposition of, has been found guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, or has been adjudicated delinquent and the record has not been sealed or expunged for any specified offense, then he or she is not eligible to work with children or vulnerable populations. If additional information is required of the applicant to determine eligibility, the applicant has 30 days to submit it to the Department as outlined in s. 435.05, F.S.