Laura MacLafferty, Unit Manager |
Residential Treatment Centers for Children and Adolescents
Residential Treatment Centers for Children and Adolescents (RTC) are 24 hour residential programs, including therapeutic group homes, licensed by the Agency. These centers were designed to provide mental health treatment and services to children under the age of 18 who have been diagnosed as having mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
Treatment Centers must meet licensing requirements by submission of a completed and notarized application, required documentation, and completion of a satisfactory survey. The biennial license fee is $230.00/bed. NOTE: Treatment Centers that are classified as Therapeutic Group Homes are limited to a maximum capacity of 12 beds.
Financial penalties may be imposed for failure to file a timely application or license fee.
Initial, Change of Licensed Operator and Renewal Requirements
To renew a current state license that is due to expire, you must print the licensure application form below and submit the completed form(s) with the renewal fee prior to the expiration date of the license. Renewal applications must be received by the Agency at least 60 days prior to expiration of a license or a late fee will be assessed.
Initial applications due to a change of licensed operator must submit a complete application package 60 days prior to the date of the anticipated change of licensed operator.
- Completed, signed and notarized License Application Form.
- NOTE: A renewal application will not be accepted if the residential treatment center license is expired. An initial license application must be filed if your license has expired.
- Health Care Licensing Application , Addendum , Voluntary Board Member Affidavit, and Affidavit of Compliance with Background Screening Requirements.
- These forms are recommended for use beginning October 1, 2006, to comply with the reporting requirements pursuant to Chapter 408, Part II, Florida Statutes. Please provide this information in addition to the licensing application for the specific provider/facility type.
- Employment identification number or taxpayer identification number of each person or entity controlling five percent or more interest in the corporation.
- Current balance sheet for owner(s) verifying financial information for the facility.
- Statement of operations projecting first six months income, expenses, taxes, credits, etc. (Not required for renewal applications).
- Proof of liability insurance coverage (minimum coverage is $300,000 per occurrence/$1,000,000 annual aggregate).
- Background screening affidavit assuring required facility staff will be screened (section 394.4572, F.S.).
- AIDS/HIV affidavit assuring required facility staff will be trained (section 381.0035, F.S.).
- Satisfactory fire safety inspection report completed in the last 365 days.
- Satisfactory Department of Health sanitation inspection report completed in the last 365 days.
- Proof of right to occupy the premises (warranty deed, lease agreement, quit claim deed, or similar document confirming the applicant's right to operate at the street address shown on the application).
- Proof that the corporation is active with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (current certification of status or copy of the corporation's completed annual report form & a copy of both sides of the cancelled check submitted for payment of the corporation's renewal fee).
- For all RTCs (except Community Residential Homes), a report or letter from the zoning authority dated within the last 6 months indicating the street location is zoned appropriately for its use.
- Facilities that would be considered a Community Residential Home under Chapter 419, F.S. shall provide a completed Community Residential Home Affidavit of Compliance form.
- Copy of the center's occupational license.
- If accredited, a copy of the Joint Commission, CARF, COA, or NCQA accreditation letter, survey report, & any follow up reports to or from the accrediting organization.
- NOTE: For renewals, provide copies of any correspondence to or from the accrediting organization that have not been submitted previously to the Agency since the current accreditation was awarded. A copy of the accreditation award letter, accreditation certificate, and accreditation report (survey report) must be submitted only if a new accreditation periood has been awarded since the initial application or last renewal application was filed with the Agency.
- Check for the application fee ($230 per bed), may be combined with the screening fee (below).
- If the Agency will be completing the required background screening, include a check for $43.25 per person.
- Completed, signed and notarized License Application Form.
- Community Residential Home Affidavit of Compliance form.
- Check for any additional beds requested ($230 per bed).
- NOTE: There is no charge for decrease in capacity.
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FBI fingerprint screening must be completed by the managing employee (usually the chief executive officer) and the chief financial officer and then repeated every five years unless there is a new hire. Please go to the background screening section of this web site for additional documentation that must be submitted with your application.
- RTC License Application Form
- Health Care Licensing Application , Addendum , Voluntary Board Member Affidavit, and Affidavit of Compliance with Background Screening Requirements.
- These forms are recommended for use beginning October 1, 2006, to comply with the reporting requirements pursuant to Chapter 408, Part II, Florida Statutes. Please provide this information in addition to the licensing application for the specific provider/facility type.
- HIV Training Affidavit (341K PDF)
- RTC Checklist
- Annual Affidavit of Compliance with Level 2 Background Screening for Covered Employees
- Chapter 394 Part IV, Florida Statutes
- Chapter 65E-9, Florida Administrative Code
- Chapter 408, Part II, Florida Statutes
- National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC)
- Florida's Center for the Advancement of Child Welfare Practice
- The National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP)
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Capacity Change Requirements (if applying for such changes other than with license renewal)
Background Screening
Applications/Forms
Statute/Rule Authority
Resources (Trauma Informed Care)
Updated September 23, 2009
