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Group Care Facilities

The Group Care Program consists of educational facilities (public, private and charter schools) and certain residential facilities.

Educational Facilities

The purpose of the program is to prevent or minimize the risk of transmitting disease, injury, or bodily harm. The list below includes some of the primary areas the environmental health inspectors check during their inspection visit of the educational buildings. The DOH does not inspect dormitories.

  • Maintenance & Repair
  • Lighting
  • Vermin/Animal Control
  • Water Supply
  • Liquid & Solid Waste
  • Heating and Air-conditioning
  • Sanitary Facilities/Restrooms & Showers
  • Handwashing Facilities & Supplies
  • Playground Equipment

There are no exemptions to inspections for public, private, or religiously based educational facilities. The following facilities receive a physical plant inspection:

  • Public Schools
  • Charter Schools
  • Private or Non-public Schools
  • Vocational/GED Schools

Opening a New School

Prior to opening or operating any school, you first need to contact the local county health department. In addition to the group care and food hygiene requirements, you must first get approval or sign off in the following areas before an environmental health inspection will be conducted:

  • The building must be inspected and approved by the local fire authority as a school or educational facility.
  • For non-public schools the local county or city electrical, plumbing, and building department must provide a signed inspection approval or written approval that the school facility meets all local educational standards for the aforementioned departments.

Once the appropriate paperwork is provided to the local county health department, the DOH can begin to process your request and open your school.  In addition, any food service, including snacks or catered food, must be approved by the local county health department.

 

Residential Group Care

The specific residential group care facility types the DOH has inspection authority in are listed in section 381.006(16), Florida Statutes. The DOH residential group care facilities list includes the following: assisted living facility, adult family-care home, short-term residential treatment center, residential treatment facility, home for special services, transitional living facility, crisis stabilization unit, hospice, and intermediate care facility for persons with developmental disabilities. 

The list below includes some of the primary areas the environmental health inspector checks for during their inspection visit in accordance with Chapter 64E-12, Florida Administrative Code.

  • House Keeping
  • Lighting
  • Vermin/Animal Control
  • Bed/Bedding
  • Water Supply
  • Liquid & Solid Waste
  • Housing
  • Sanitary Facilities
  • Outdoor Area & Equipment
  • Indoor equipment/furnishings

 

Areas Related To Disease Control and Injury Prevention Need Special Attention

  • Food Hygiene & Sanitation
  • Sanitary bedding
  • Solid Waste/garbage
  • Sanitary Facilities (Restrooms & Bathing Facilities)
  • Repair and Upkeep
  • Safe Outdoor Recreational Area
  • Vector and Vermin Control
  • Water Temperature

 

A “group home” is a generic term for various types of 24-hour residential group care facilities licensed by one of three other State Agencies: Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Department of Children and Families (DCF), and Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). The Department of Health (DOH) does not license any residential group care facilities (“group home”), nor provides placement services for residents seeking placement in the state of Florida, nor provides any type of funding for residential group care.

Partner Agencies

 

Questions?

Call 305-623-3500

Email MiamiDadeEH@flhealth.gov