Foster screenings

Background screenings are required if you wish to provide foster care in your home for a child in the public welfare system. Any adults over the age of 18 residing in the home must complete a background screening. This includes foster care, proctor care, professional parent care and adoption for children in custody of a child welfare system, as well as private foster care and refugee foster care.

One-time adoptions submitted by a non-licensed entity (adoption attorney, etc.) also require a background screening for one-time clearance. This screening requires a separate application (see below).

Last, background screenings are required if you are seeking legal guardianship consent for youth ages 12- to 17-years-old and not living in a foster/adoptive home and not receiving services. This includes SAS & DSPD Certified Providers. This screening requires a separate application (see below).

Process and instructions

Initiate your screening by submitting the appropriate application:

Foster Care application

Choose which box in the top left applies to you:
- If you are a new applicant with Utah Foster Care, mark the first box.
- If you are already licensed as a DCFS Foster Parent, or are residing in an Office of Licensing licensed foster home, mark the second box and include the licensor name.
- If you are working with an agency other that Utah Foster Care or DCFS, mark the third box and include the name of the agency.
Legibly complete sections 1-5, filling in every box. Complete social security numbers are needed for all children ages 12 and over to track their screenings in DACS.
Completely fill out the demographic section at the bottom of the form AND attach a copy of your ID and social security card.
Read section 6 and sign/date the bottom of the form.
Submit the form to your licensor or your Foster/Adoptive Consultant with Utah Foster Care. They will enter your information in our DACS system, and you will get an auto-generated email with a link to an online disclosure form to acknowledge. After you do this, you will receive a Livescan Authorization Form to take with you when you get fingerprints done.

Respite Care or Babysitting Form

Use this form if you provide respite care or babysitting for a foster provider and do not live in the foster home.
Fill out the form completely, following the instructions on page 2 of the form.
Make sure to include the name of the foster provider and licensor in the appropriate spaces and sign the form.
Follow the instructions on page 2 of the form for submitting the form and the payment information.
You will get an auto-generated email with a link to an online disclosure form to acknowledge. After you do this, you will receive a Livescan Authorization Form to take with you when you get fingerprints done.

One-time adoption information

There is no application fee for DCFS foster providers or adults living in the foster home. Fees for respite providers and one-time adoptions are outlined on the application form
The fee for Livescan at a DCFS office is $10. If you choose not to use a DCFS Live Scan, you may submit two fingerprint cards. As the applicant, you are responsible for providing this fee at the time of the live scan fingerprint appointment

The Rap Back system checks state, regional and national databases for criminal records
By submitting an application, you give consent for the Office of Licensing to monitor all relevant databases for as long as you remain licensed or associated with a licensee
The Office of Licensing will issue a screening clearance or denial, according to standards and procedures outlined in opens in a new tab Utah Code
If you receive clearance on your screening, your application will be returned to the background screening agent that submitted it. The agency will keep it on file and make it available as needed by the Office of Licensing
If a screening is denied, you and/or your background screening agent will be notified in writing, along with appeal procedures. No appeal is available if you are denied for failure to provide required information
If you close your foster care license, it is your or the screening agent’s responsibility to inform the Office of Licensing for removal from the ongoing Rap Back system

You are required to disclose all criminal charges, including pending charges, and all supported or substantiated findings of abuse, neglect or exploitation. Certified court docket or other certified records must be submitted in these cases
Having charges does not automatically disqualify you from providing foster/adoptive care. It depends on what the charges are, how long ago they occurred and other considerations
Charges will be fairly assessed by the Office of Licensing as described in state law
A licensed program shall not disclose screening results except as authorized by Utah or federal law

License renewal

Renewing your background screening is no longer necessary if you are in our DACS system and enrolled in Rapback. However, information must be submitted for children who have turned 12 and any adults who have moved into the home.