Foster homes must be licensed by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).  A person may apply to become a foster parent through the DCYF’s Licensing Division or a child placing agency.  Applicants must complete required training, undergo a background check, meet with a DCYF licensor for interviews and home visits, and complete a home study.
 
The DCYF may issue a child-specific license to a relative or a suitable person who opts to become licensed for placement of a specific child and that child's siblings or relatives in the DCYF's care, custody, and control.  Such individuals must meet all minimum licensing requirements and other criteria the DCYF establishes by rule.  For purposes of federal funding, a child-specific license is considered a full license with all of the rights and responsibilities of a foster family home license except that the licensee may only receive placement of specific children.

The DCYF may issue a child-specific foster care license to an Indian child's family or extended family member who opts to become licensed for placement of a specific Indian child and that child's siblings or relatives in the custody of an Indian tribe or the tribe's placing agency.
 
An "Indian child" is a child who is a member of an Indian tribe or who is eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe.  An "Indian child's family" or "extended family member" is defined to include an individual who is defined by the law or custom of the child's tribe as a relative of the child.  If the child's tribe does not identify such individuals by law or custom, the term means an adult who is the Indian child's grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, niece, nephew, first or second cousin, or stepparent, even following termination of the marriage.