Office of Licensing and Regulation (OLR)

The Office of Licensing and Regulation (OLR) is the licensing and regulatory authority that oversees and monitors licensed foster homes and group homes. OLR is also responsible for the licensure of child placing agencies and adoption agencies across the State of Arizona.

For questions regarding the licensing process, please contact 602-255-2801.

There are several units under OLR:

Training

The Training Unit is responsible for the design and implementation of curricula for OLR for delivery to and use by licensing agencies and licensees. If you have questions, please contact [email protected].

Training Announcement:

As promised, here is the Business Operation Training Unit's Training Calendar for the First half of 2018 (January – June 2018). Please review the course descriptions fully for any prerequisites to attend, and follow the registration instructions to request a seat in the class. Check back occasionally in the event any unscheduled classes are added/announced.

The Training Unit looks forward to meeting your future training needs.

Training Calendar:

January - June 2019 / Group Homes (PDF)
January - June 2019 (PDF)
July - December 2019 (PDF)
July - December 2019 / Group Homes (PDF)

Life Safety Inspections

LSI schedules inspection appointments based on the expiration of the foster care or group home license. As LSI covers the entire state, appointments are scheduled to maximize inspection time and minimize drive time for the inspectors. LSI also offers pool fence consultations with applicants/licensees to help ensure pool fences meet rule (R21-8-113).

Rules R21-6-201 and 211 place certain requirements on the foster home licensing agencies, specifically to ensure the applicant/licensee has “information to help the applicant to prepare for the Life-Safety Inspection” and to “conduct a preliminary inspection of the applicant’s or foster parent’s home to assess compliance with Life-Safety Rules (R21-8-101 et seq.). OLR will schedule the inspection only after a verification of compliance inspection is completed by the licensing agency.

It is also imperative that LSI be notified of any changes in address, email or phone numbers after the inspection request is received. Should an applicant/licensee chose to close the application or license after the inspection has been scheduled, LSI should be notified immediately as this will allow us to reschedule another inspection for a potential foster parent awaiting licensure.

Unfortunately most of the 3246 Life-Safety Inspections completed in 2015 showed significant deficiencies. This required either OLR or the Licensing Agency to make additional visits to the home to verify the deficiencies were brought into compliance which can significantly lengthen the licensing time-line.

Questions regarding Life-Safety Inspections can be sent to: [email protected].

Regulatory Enforcement Unit

The unit investigates complaints reported to the hotline, community complaints and internal complaints. This unit investigates compliance concerns/violations. This unit is responsible for deploying adverse actions when necessary.

When sending in incident reports to OLR, please send the incident report for foster homes to [email protected] and for group homes and shelters to [email protected].

Child Welfare Licensing

The Child Welfare Licensing Unit is responsible for the licensure of group homes and Child Placing and Adoption agencies across the State of Arizona.

Article 74 - LICENSING PROCESS AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES OPERATING RESIDENTIAL GROUP CARE FACILITIES AND OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS