There are different types of background checks. It is important to ensure the appropriate background screen is requested for the specific case need, based on Florida Statute, and therefore cannot be used interchangeably.

Important Note: Anytime you do a background check for placement, you are to complete the FSFN Unified Home Study and enter the results of the background check into the FSFN Provider Record. 

1. Local law & abuse checks **NO FINGERPRINTS REQUIRED**

This type of screening is suitable for the following needs:

• Unsupervised Contact – includes non-judicial home.
• Babysitting
• Case Closure
• Relicense yearly check for licensed foster home.
• Reunification

2. State (FCIC), local law & abuse checks **NO FINGERPRINTS REQUIRED**

This type of screening is suitable for the following needs:

• Planned/Emergency Placement youth ages 12-17
• Adoption (initial & 90 day)/Licensed foster home (initial & 5 year) FDLE youth ages 12-17
• Reunification

3. National (NCIC), State (FCIC), local law & abuse checks

**FINGERPRINTS ARE REQUIRED** All live scans/fingerprints are done by appointment only.

This type of screening is suitable for the following needs:

• Planned/Emergency Placement or household members of a placement – includes *New* household member to non-judicial home, and Level 1 License who has not been printed by CPI.
  • Non-Custodial Parent
  • Relative
  • Non-Relative
• **Family-Made Arrangement (No removal/shelter) *Safety Plan*
• **Safety Provider *Safety Plan*
• **Initial Adoption – second sets are taken for 90-day rescreen (if warranted).
• Frequent visitor to placement home (visitor who is in home consistently on a regular basis)
• **New Licensed Foster home/5 year rescreen
• **Licensed Foster home babysitter-Licensing determines and advises subject to be fingerprinted.
• Household member of reunifying household (relative/non-relative **not parent** who has not been previously fingerprinted).
• Other child safety concern

** Even though placements, adoption, foster care licensing, family-made arrangement and safety provider background screens all require fingerprints – they cannot be used interchangeably due to Florida statue specification guidelines**

PLEASE NOTE: All 3 types include out-of-state criminal checks if the resources are available to BSU for identified state that subject has resided in.

PLEASE PLAN AHEAD 

Fingerprints will not be transmitted to FBI/FDLE unless the background screen request is entered into the BSU database by the Point of Contact for your agency. All urgent or emergency placement screens will require a supervisor’s approval communicated to BSU before work begins.  Emergency Placement subjects will need to call and schedule live scan appointments before BSU releases the results of the completed emergency placement screen.