Foster families: first-aid and CPR standards
First Aid & CPR Indiana
Becoming a foster family in Indiana means opening your home to a child who needs a safe, stable place to live. Among the requirements to complete before your license is issued: holding current first-aid and CPR training. It is one condition among many, alongside the home study and background checks.
The first-aid requirement
The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) requires each licensee to complete CPR and first-aid training before a foster family home license is issued, under 465 IAC 2-1.5-22. The certification must cover adult and pediatric airway obstruction, and first aid for situations such as seizures, poisoning and severe bleeding.
The CPR/first-aid certification is valid for two years and must be kept current to maintain the license; blood-borne pathogens/universal precautions training is renewed yearly. This training is in addition to the home study, background checks and the parenting suitability the agency assesses — it does not by itself qualify a person to foster.
How to meet it
A recognized, up-to-date first-aid and CPR certificate meets this requirement. It is in addition to the required training or assessment, and is renewed periodically.
Training aligned with the latest emergency-care standards
Our CPR, AED and first-aid training is developed in line with the most recent international guidelines for emergency cardiovascular care and first aid.
We rigorously follow the recommendations of ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation), the international body responsible for the scientific evaluation and development of global resuscitation standards. These recommendations serve as a reference for health organizations, institutions and professional orders worldwide — and are updated as scientific and clinical evidence evolves.
Keep your skills current with confidence
Every intervention can make a difference. Keeping CPR and emergency-care skills current is both a professional requirement and a responsibility toward patients, colleagues and the public.
See the recognized first-aid courses in your regionReferences
- 465 IAC 2-1.5-22 — Foster parent training
- Indiana DCS — Foster Care Licensing Requirements
- ILCOR — International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation
Content is being updated.