Kinship Care Home Assessment and Background Check in Alberta

What Happens When CFS Considers Your Home

When Children and Family Services (CFS) or a Delegated First Nation Agency (DFNA) needs to place a child with a relative, they do not just hand over the child and walk away. Before approving your home as a formal kinship placement, they complete a home assessment and background checks. This process protects the child and, once complete, opens the door to kinship care per diems and the full range of placement supports.

If you are already caring for a child informally and CFS becomes involved, the assessment formalizes what is already happening. If CFS contacts you because a child needs placement, the assessment determines whether your home is suitable.

Either way, knowing what to expect makes the process less stressful.

The Background Check

The CFS or DFNA worker will explain which household members need checks, which checks are required, and where to obtain them. Background checks are part of the assessment, but the exact steps and documents should be confirmed with your worker.

If you have a criminal record, disclose it to the CFS or DFNA worker and ask how it may affect the assessment. The worker can explain how the circumstances relate to the child's safety and placement decision.

Processing times depend on the checks required and the agencies involved. Ask your CFS or DFNA worker for the current estimate.

The Home Assessment

A CFS or DFNA caseworker visits your home to assess its suitability for the child. This is not an inspection looking for a perfect house — it is an assessment of whether the home is safe and can meet the child's basic needs.

The caseworker may discuss physical safety, sleeping arrangements, basic provisions, household dynamics, and pets. Examples include working smoke detectors, safe storage for medications and cleaning products, an appropriate sleeping space, adequate food and bathroom facilities, your support network, and whether pets pose a risk. Requirements depend on the child's needs and the agency's assessment, so confirm specific standards with your worker, including any pool or firearm safety requirements.

How to Prepare

You do not need to renovate your home or buy new furniture. Practical preparation:

• Make sure smoke detectors work and fire extinguishers are accessible
• Secure medications, cleaning products, and sharp objects out of a child's reach
• Set up a sleeping space for the child — even a mattress with clean bedding is enough initially
• Have identification ready for all adults in the home (for background checks)
• Think about your daily routine and how a child fits into it — school runs, meals, bedtime
• Be honest with the caseworker about your situation, including any concerns or limitations

The caseworker is not there to catch you out. They are there to confirm that the child will be safe and that you have the capacity and willingness to provide care.

How Long Does Approval Take?

Approval timing varies with the child's circumstances and the checks required. In an urgent situation, ask the CFS or DFNA worker which safety checks must be completed before placement and what follow-up steps remain. For a non-urgent placement, ask the worker for an estimate after they identify the required checks and documents.

What Happens After Approval

Once your home is approved, CFS establishes a Kinship Care Support Plan. This plan outlines:

• The daily basic maintenance per diem you will receive ($26.00 to $39.66 per day depending on the child's age)
• Any supplementary supports (babysitting/respite, clothing allowances, recreation funding)
• The Kinship Initial Placement Allowance (KIPA) of up to $900 for setup costs
• Medical and dental coverage for the child
• Expectations for contact between the child and their biological parents

The Bigger Financial Picture

The home assessment is the gateway to formal kinship care supports. Understanding what comes after — per diems, KIPA, supplementary allowances, and eventually the possibility of private guardianship and Supports for Permanency — helps you plan for the long term. The Alberta Kinship Financial Help Guide covers the full financial landscape from your first placement through private guardianship.

See more Alberta guides →