Resource Family Approval

All youth need and deserve a safe, loving, nurturing, accepting, and consistent place to live where they can thrive and mature. Becoming a resource family caregiver provides a home for a youth to do just that.

Resource Family Approval (RFA) is a new caregiver approval process that a foster parent, relative, non-relative extended family member completes to be considered for potential placement of a youth, or young adult (non-minor dependents from 18-21 years old).

RFA combines elements of the current licensing, relative approval, adoption, and guardianship 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.

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.

RFA 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 the Continuum of Care.

If you are interested in becoming a resource parent or would like more information regarding RFA and the process, please visit Merced County Cares for Kids website.

Additional Resources

Health Insurance Options for At-Risk, Homeless, and Vulnerable Youth