How to Fill Out Illinois Form IL DCFS CFS 600 (w/Examples) + FAQs

Illinois Form CFS 600 is the Application for License to Operate a Foster Family Home, Day Care Home, or Child Care Facility that the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) requires from every adult who wants to be licensed to care for children outside the child’s own family. The form opens a licensing case, triggers background checks, and starts the 90-day clock the agency uses to investigate your home.

DCFS issued the current revision (Rev. 7/2022) and processes more than 8,000 new and renewed home licenses each year, with internal data showing roughly 1 in 5 first-time applications is returned for missing signatures, blank household-member rows, or incomplete 10-year address history. A single missing box can push your license issue date back by months and delay a child’s placement.

  • 📝 How to fill out every box on CFS 600, line by line, with sample entries.
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Three full walkthroughs for foster couples, kinship caregivers, and day care home operators.
  • 📎 The exact attachments DCFS expects, including CFS 602, CFS 718-A, and CFS 718-B.
  • ⚖️ How 89 Ill. Adm. Code Part 402 and the Child Care Act of 1969 shape every answer you give.
  • 🚫 The 10 most common mistakes that cause DCFS to deny, delay, or revoke a license.

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

CFS 600 is the master licensing application that Illinois DCFS uses under the Child Care Act of 1969 (225 ILCS 10) to decide whether your home or facility can lawfully care for children who are not your own. The form covers three license types in one document: foster family homes, day care homes, and child care facilities such as group homes and child care institutions. DCFS requires every adult applicant in the household to sign, even if only one spouse views themselves as “the foster parent.”

The agency uses CFS 600 as the front door to a licensing file that will hold your medical reports, references, fingerprints, financial proofs, and home-safety checklists. Without a signed CFS 600 in the file, your licensing representative cannot order CANTS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System) checks, cannot request fingerprint-based criminal history through the Illinois State Police, and cannot schedule the home study. The form is the legal trigger that starts the entire licensure process.

You must file CFS 600 if you want to foster, adopt through DCFS, take placement of a relative child as a licensed kinship caregiver, run a licensed day care home, or operate any child care facility regulated under 89 Ill. Adm. Code Part 402, Part 406, Part 408, or Part 377. License-exempt relative caregivers who only need a placement, not a license, file a different form. If you are unsure which path applies, your assigned licensing worker at the DCFS Office of Licensing can confirm before you sign.


Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather every document below before you open CFS 600, because DCFS will not begin processing until your file is complete. Missing items are the single biggest cause of delay reported by the DCFS Office of Licensing.

  • Government photo ID for every adult in the home. A driver’s license or state ID confirms your legal name and address; without it, fingerprint results cannot be matched back to your file.
  • Social Security cards for all household members. DCFS uses SSNs to run SACWIS and CANTS checks; a wrong digit returns a “no record” that must be corrected before licensure.
  • Certified birth certificates for every child in the household. These confirm ages and parentage and are required by Rule 402.8.
  • Marriage certificates and divorce decrees, including out-of-state. DCFS verifies marital history because unresolved divorces can block licensure under Rule 402.
  • Ten-year address history for every adult. Each prior state triggers an out-of-state child-abuse registry check under 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(20)(B); a missing state holds the file.
  • Medical report CFS 602 for every household member. A licensed physician must complete it within the past 12 months.
  • Three personal references using CFS 718-A. References cannot be relatives; missing references are the most common cause of file holds.
  • Signed CFS 718-B authorizations for CANTS checks. Every adult who has lived in the home in the past five years must sign; an unsigned 718-B blocks the entire application.
  • Proof of income. Recent pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit award letters demonstrate the financial stability required by Rule 402.10.
  • Pet vaccination records. Rabies certificates for every dog and cat protect placed children and are required at the home study.
  • Floor plan and well-water test (if applicable). A simple sketch with room labels and a recent potability test (rural homes) speed the safety inspection.

Open a labeled folder for each item before you start typing. Filers who walk into the home study with a complete folder are licensed an average of 47 days faster than those who do not, according to internal DCFS tracking.


Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The official PDF lives on the DCFS Forms Library and is downloadable as a fillable Adobe form. You can also request a paper packet from your assigned licensing representative at any of the six DCFS administrative regions. Private licensed child welfare agencies, such as Lutheran Social Services of Illinois or Lawrence Hall, often hand the packet to applicants at the orientation meeting.

Always confirm you have the Rev. 7/2022 version printed in the lower-left corner. DCFS rejects older versions because revised CANTS-disclosure language and updated fingerprint-vendor instructions changed in the 2022 revision. Do not photocopy a friend’s old form; download a fresh PDF.

You may complete the form three ways: type directly into the fillable PDF and print, hand-print in black ink on a paper copy, or complete it electronically with your licensing worker through the agency’s SACWIS workflow. Pencil entries, white-out, and erasable ink are not accepted under Rule 383 recordkeeping standards.

If you live outside Illinois but want to be licensed by Illinois DCFS for a specific relative child, you must coordinate with both states under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). Your CFS 600 still goes to Illinois, but the home study is conducted by the receiving state.


Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out CFS 600 Line by Line

CFS 600 has a header block, eight numbered sections, and a signature page. Use the exact field labels printed on the form when you reference a box on the phone with your licensing worker.

Header: License Type Checkbox

The header asks which license you are applying for and whether the application is initial or renewal.

Check one of three boxes: Foster Family Home, Day Care Home, or Child Care Facility. Then check Initial or Renewal.

A married couple seeking to foster their first placement, Maria and David Lopez, check Foster Family Home and Initial.

If you are converting from a relative-only license to a fully licensed foster home, you still check Initial, not Renewal, because the license category is changing.

The most common mistake here is checking both Foster Family Home and Day Care Home in hopes of doing both at once; DCFS rejects dual-category applications and requires a separate CFS 600 for each license type.

A widespread misconception is that “renewal” applies to anyone who has been licensed before; in fact, renewal only applies if your current license is still active and within 60 days of expiring under Rule 402.6.

Section 1: Applicant Identification (Boxes 1–6)

Section 1 asks for the legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, race/ethnicity, and gender of each adult applicant.

Print the legal name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card, dates as MM/DD/YYYY, and SSNs as XXX-XX-XXXX. Co-applicants each get their own row.

Maria Lopez writes LOPEZ, MARIA ELENA, 03/14/1985, 123-45-6789. Her husband David Lopez fills the second row with his information.

If you legally changed your name (marriage, divorce, court order), enter your current legal name in Box 1 and list the prior name in Box 6 (“other names used”). Skipping prior names is the top reason CANTS checks come back as “no match.”

A common mistake is using a nickname in Box 1; DCFS cross-checks Box 1 against Illinois State Police fingerprint records, and a nickname will trigger a name-discrepancy hold.

A common misconception is that only the “primary” applicant needs to complete Section 1; the form treats every adult as a co-applicant, and an unsigned spouse row is grounds for denial.

Section 2: Home Address and Contact Information (Boxes 7–12)

Section 2 captures your physical address, mailing address (if different), home phone, cell phone, and email.

Use the street address that matches your driver’s license, write apartment numbers in Box 7-B, and provide a working email because licensing notices increasingly arrive electronically.

Marcus Carter, a single kinship caregiver in Peoria, writes 412 N. PERRY AVE., APT 3, PEORIA, IL 61603 and lists his Gmail address.

If you have a P.O. Box for mail but the home is on a rural route, put the rural route in Box 7 (physical) and the P.O. Box in Box 8 (mailing). DCFS must inspect the physical home, not the P.O. Box.

The most common mistake is leaving the email blank because the applicant rarely uses email; this delays every notice from licensing and can cause missed home-study appointments.

A misconception is that listing a relative’s address (such as a parent’s house you visit often) is acceptable; only the address where the child will sleep counts as the home under Rule 402.8.

Section 3: Household Composition (Boxes 13–20)

Section 3 lists every person who lives in the home, related or not, including children, adult children, roommates, and live-in partners.

Enter each person’s full legal name, relationship to the applicant, date of birth, gender, and whether they are a full-time resident. Use one row per person and never combine siblings into one row.

For the Lopez family, Maria lists herself, David, their 7-year-old daughter Sofia Lopez (DOB 05/02/2018), and Maria’s mother Elena Garcia (DOB 11/12/1955) who lives with them.

If a college-age child is away at school but returns for breaks, list them and check “part-time.” If a romantic partner stays four or more nights a week, DCFS treats them as a household member regardless of mailing address.

The most common mistake is omitting an adult child or boyfriend/girlfriend who “doesn’t really live here.” Once SACWIS pulls utility or DMV data and the person surfaces, the application is flagged for misrepresentation, which can cause permanent denial under Rule 402.5.

A common misconception is that minor grandchildren visiting on weekends do not count; if any child stays four or more nights a month, DCFS wants them listed.

Section 4: Marital and Relationship History (Boxes 21–24)

Section 4 asks about current marital status and all prior marriages or civil unions.

Check the correct status box, then list each prior spouse’s name, date of marriage, date of divorce or death, and the state where it was finalized.

Janet Williams, applying as a single kinship caregiver, lists her one prior marriage to Robert Williams from 06/14/2001 to 09/22/2019, divorce finalized in Cook County, IL.

If a divorce is pending but not final, write PENDING and the petition file number; DCFS may delay licensure until the divorce is final because parental rights and finances are unsettled.

The most common mistake is omitting a brief early marriage that was annulled. Annulled marriages still surface in records, and the omission looks like concealment.

A misconception is that only “real” marriages matter; civil unions and out-of-state common-law marriages must be listed too.

Section 5: Ten-Year Address History (Boxes 25–30)

Section 5 captures every address you and your co-applicant have lived at in the past 10 years.

List each address with start and end dates in MM/YYYY format, the city, state, and ZIP. Use additional sheets if you ran out of rows.

David Lopez lists Chicago, IL (08/2014–06/2018), Aurora, IL (06/2018–04/2022), and his current Naperville address (04/2022–present).

If you lived briefly in another state for college, military, or a temporary job, you still list it. Each out-of-state entry triggers an out-of-state child-abuse registry check required by 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(20)(B).

The most common mistake is forgetting a six-month stint in another state; that state’s registry check is mandatory, and a missing one will delay your license by 30 to 90 days.

A misconception is that only the applicant’s history matters; the spouse’s 10-year history is equally required.

Section 6: Background Disclosure (Boxes 31–38)

Section 6 asks about prior arrests, convictions, child-welfare investigations, prior license actions, and child-support obligations.

Answer every yes/no question, and on every “Yes,” attach a written explanation with dates, agency, and outcome.

Marcus Carter answers “Yes” to a 2009 misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge in Cook County, attaches a one-page explanation, and includes the certified court disposition showing the case was dismissed.

If a prior arrest was expunged, you still must disclose it; DCFS sees expunged Illinois cases through its statutory access under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2(g)(1.5).

The most common mistake is hiding a 20-year-old offense thinking “it won’t show up.” Fingerprint-based checks pull lifetime federal records; concealment is a separate ground for denial under Rule 385 and may trigger perjury exposure under 720 ILCS 5/32-2.

A misconception is that traffic tickets must be listed; only criminal arrests, convictions, and orders of protection are required, not parking or minor moving violations.

Section 7: Employment, Income, and Financial Stability (Boxes 39–44)

Section 7 asks about current employer, gross monthly income, other income (Social Security, child support, pensions), and monthly housing cost.

Enter employer name, address, position, hire date, gross monthly income, and any other income with sources. Round to the nearest dollar; do not estimate ranges.

Aisha Bennett, a licensed day care home applicant, writes Self-Employed – In-Home Day Care, projected monthly gross of $3,800, plus $1,200 monthly child support.

If your income varies month to month (gig work, seasonal), use the average of the past 12 months from your most recent tax return.

The most common mistake is leaving Box 41 (other income) blank when you do receive Social Security or VA benefits; underreporting income makes you look financially unstable when in fact you are not, and a stronger income picture supports licensure.

A misconception is that DCFS uses income to means-test foster parents; income is not means-tested under Rule 402.10, but you must show enough income to meet your own family’s needs without the foster board payment.

Section 8: References, Authorizations, and Disclosures (Boxes 45–50)

Section 8 names three personal references, lists prior license history, and triggers the CANTS authorization language.

Provide each reference’s name, address, phone, email, and years known. Then check yes/no for prior DCFS license, denial, or revocation.

The Lopez family lists their pastor, a long-time neighbor, and Maria’s coworker of 12 years, each with full contact information and 10+ years of acquaintance.

If a reference is also a relative, replace them; DCFS rejects relative references under Rule 402.12, and you will be asked to redo the section.

The most common mistake is listing references the applicant has not spoken to recently. References who do not respond to the CFS 718-A within two weeks stall the entire file.

A misconception is that the applicant fills out the reference form; references must complete and return CFS 718-A directly to DCFS, sealed, without the applicant’s edits.

Signature Page: Certification, Date, and Witness

The signature page requires every adult applicant to sign and date under penalty of perjury, and a witness or licensing representative must countersign.

Sign in black ink, date as MM/DD/YYYY, and print the legal name beneath the signature line. Both spouses sign separately.

Maria Lopez signs Maria E. Lopez, prints MARIA ELENA LOPEZ, dates 03/15/2026; David Lopez signs and prints on the next line.

If a witness is required and you are completing the form at home, ask a notary; if your licensing rep is present, they sign as witness without notarization.

The most common mistake is one spouse signing for the other; DCFS rejects forged or “by” signatures, and the form is returned unprocessed.

A misconception is that the date can be the date you mail the form; the date must be the date you actually signed, because the perjury certification ties to the signature moment under 720 ILCS 5/32-2.


Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Scenario 1: Married Couple Seeking First Foster Placement — Maria and David Lopez

Form Section What Maria and David Enter
License Type Foster Family Home / Initial
Section 1 — Names LOPEZ, MARIA ELENA and LOPEZ, DAVID ANDRES
Section 2 — Address 842 OAK ST., NAPERVILLE, IL 60540
Section 3 — Household Maria, David, daughter Sofia (05/02/2018), mother-in-law Elena Garcia (11/12/1955)
Section 4 — Marital Married 07/19/2014, no prior marriages
Section 5 — 10-Year Address Chicago (08/2014–06/2018), Aurora (06/2018–04/2022), Naperville (04/2022–present)
Section 6 — Background All “No,” plus disclosure of David’s 2011 expunged DUI with explanation
Section 7 — Income Combined gross $9,200/month; mortgage $2,150/month
Section 8 — References Pastor, neighbor of 9 years, Maria’s coworker of 12 years
Signatures Both sign separately, dated 03/15/2026

Scenario 2: Single Kinship Caregiver — Marcus Carter (Nephew Placement)

Form Section What Marcus Enters
License Type Foster Family Home / Initial
Section 1 — Name CARTER, MARCUS JAMAL
Section 2 — Address 412 N. PERRY AVE., APT 3, PEORIA, IL 61603
Section 3 — Household Marcus only; nephew Jordan Carter (08/15/2017) to be placed
Section 4 — Marital Single, never married
Section 5 — 10-Year Address Peoria addresses only, all listed in chronological order
Section 6 — Background “Yes” to 2009 disorderly conduct (dismissed); attaches court disposition
Section 7 — Income $4,400/month gross from employer Caterpillar Inc.
Section 8 — References Brother-in-law’s pastor, supervisor of 6 years, longtime friend (non-relative)
Signatures Marcus signs and dates 03/18/2026

Scenario 3: Day Care Home Operator — Aisha Bennett

Form Section What Aisha Enters
License Type Day Care Home / Initial
Section 1 — Name BENNETT, AISHA RENEE
Section 2 — Address 1928 W. 67TH ST., CHICAGO, IL 60636
Section 3 — Household Aisha, her two children Malik (10) and Zoe (6), plus adult brother Terrell who lives part-time
Section 4 — Marital Divorced 2019, prior spouse Andre Bennett listed
Section 5 — 10-Year Address Three Chicago addresses, plus 14-month stint in Gary, IN (06/2017–08/2018)
Section 6 — Background All “No”; no prior license action
Section 7 — Income Projected day care gross $3,800/month + child support $1,200/month
Section 8 — References Two former day care parents, one church youth leader
Signatures Aisha signs 03/22/2026; brother Terrell signs as adult household member

How to File the Completed Form

You may file CFS 600 through four channels, and each has different processing times and proof-of-filing rules.

  • By mail to your assigned regional licensing office. Find your region in the DCFS regional directory. There is no filing fee. Send certified mail with return receipt; the green card is your proof of filing. Typical processing time is 90 to 120 days from receipt.
  • In person to your licensing representative. Hand-deliver the packet at the orientation meeting or scheduled home visit. Ask the rep to date-stamp a copy and hand it back. Processing time is the same 90–120 days, but the file usually moves faster because nothing is lost in transit.
  • Through your private licensed child welfare agency such as Lutheran Social Services of Illinois or Camelot Care Centers. The agency forwards the packet to DCFS and tracks it inside SACWIS. Get an email confirmation as proof of filing.
  • Electronically through SACWIS when your licensing rep enables digital intake. You upload the signed PDF and supporting documents through the secure portal; the timestamp inside SACWIS is your proof of filing. There is no fee.

DCFS does not accept fax submissions for CFS 600 because the signature page must be a wet-ink original or an authenticated electronic signature under 5 ILCS 175. Keep a complete photocopy of everything you send for at least 4 years, the length of one license cycle.


What Happens After You File

Once DCFS receives your CFS 600, your licensing representative opens a file in SACWIS, orders CANTS checks for every adult, and submits fingerprints to the Illinois State Police and FBI. You should receive a written acknowledgment within 14 days; if you do not, call your representative.

The home study begins within 30 days. A licensing worker visits the home, walks through every room, checks smoke detectors, water temperature, medication storage, firearm storage, and pet vaccinations, and conducts individual interviews with each household member. Expect two to four visits totaling 8–15 hours.

DCFS must issue, deny, or place the license on hold within 90 days of a complete application under Rule 383.30. If the license is denied, you receive written notice and have 60 days to request an administrative hearing under 89 Ill. Adm. Code 337. Most first-time denials are reversed when missing documents are produced.

Once licensed, the license is valid for 4 years. You must update CFS 600 information any time a household member moves in or out, an adult is arrested, or you change addresses; updates are filed on CFS 597 within 10 days.


Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

  • Leaving any box blank. A blank box is treated as a non-answer and the form is returned, costing 2–4 weeks.
  • Using a nickname in Section 1. Mismatched names against Social Security and ISP records hold the file.
  • Omitting a household member. Concealment is grounds for permanent denial under Rule 402.5.
  • Skipping out-of-state addresses. Each missing state means a missing registry check and a 30–90 day delay.
  • Hiding an old or expunged arrest. Fingerprint checks pull lifetime federal records, and concealment can trigger perjury exposure.
  • Using relatives as references. Rule 402.12 prohibits it; the section must be redone.
  • Pencil or white-out on the form. Recordkeeping rules require permanent ink; the form is rejected.
  • One spouse signing for both. Forged signatures void the application.
  • Stale medical reports. A CFS 602 older than 12 months will be rejected.
  • Filing the wrong revision. Anything older than Rev. 7/2022 is returned unprocessed.
  • Listing a P.O. Box as the physical address. DCFS must inspect a real home.
  • Forgetting the date next to the signature. An undated signature voids the perjury certification.

Do’s and Don’ts

  • Do download the latest Rev. 7/2022 from the DCFS Forms Library the day you start, because revisions can drop quietly.
  • Do fill the form out twice — once in pencil on a printed copy, then transfer answers in black ink — to catch errors before they become permanent.
  • Do call your licensing representative before signing if any answer is unclear, because they can correct issues in real time.
  • Do use legal names exactly as printed on Social Security cards, since SACWIS cross-references both.
  • Do keep a full photocopy of every page and every attachment for 4 years.
  • Do disclose everything, even old or embarrassing items, because honesty almost always beats concealment in licensing decisions.
  • Don’t assume a spouse’s information is optional — every adult is a co-applicant.
  • Don’t rely on memory for dates; pull divorce decrees, lease agreements, and tax returns to verify.
  • Don’t submit with any blank box; write N/A if a question truly does not apply.
  • Don’t use a relative as a reference; the section will be rejected.
  • Don’t mail the original signed form without certified mail tracking, because lost packets restart the clock.
  • Don’t ignore the 14-day acknowledgment window; silence usually means a missing item.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

  • Pro — DIY saves time at the front end because you can complete the form on your schedule without coordinating an agency meeting.
  • Pro — DIY builds your own knowledge of Part 402 rules, which helps when the home study begins.
  • Pro — Filing through a private agency adds a navigator who reviews the form before it reaches DCFS.
  • Pro — Agency-supported filers report fewer return-for-correction events in DCFS Office of Licensing data.
  • Pro — Agency-supported filers receive matched placements faster because the agency knows the children waiting in its caseload.
  • Con — DIY filers miss subtle issues like part-time household members or pending divorces that look small but flag the file.
  • Con — DIY filers wait longer for fingerprint scheduling because they must self-coordinate with Illinois State Police vendors.
  • Con — Agency filing locks you to that agency’s caseload and switching agencies later requires a license transfer.
  • Con — Agency orientation timelines can add 4–6 weeks before the form is even handed out.
  • Con — Both paths still require the same 90-day DCFS processing window under Rule 383.30, so neither is dramatically faster after submission.

CFS 600 — Filing Pro Se vs. Through a Private Agency

Filing Pro Se Through DCFS Direct Filing Through a Private Licensed Agency
You schedule your own orientation Agency schedules orientation in batched cohorts
You self-coordinate fingerprints with ISP Agency coordinates fingerprint vendor on site
You mail or hand-deliver CFS 600 Agency uploads CFS 600 in SACWIS for you
You request your own placements from DCFS Agency matches from its own caseload first
License is held by DCFS directly License is held by DCFS with agency oversight
Best for kinship caregivers and confident filers Best for first-time foster parents wanting support

FAQs

Do I list my maiden name in Section 1 or Section 6?

Yes. Your current legal name goes in Section 1, and your maiden name (or any other prior legal name) goes in Section 6 under “other names used.”

Do I have to disclose an arrest that was expunged?

Yes. DCFS has statutory access to expunged Illinois records and requires full disclosure; concealment is independent grounds for denial.

Can my adult son who lives with me skip the form?

No. Every adult living in the home is treated as a household member and must be listed in Section 3 and sign the CANTS authorization on CFS 718-B.

Do I need to list a 6-month address in another state?

Yes. Every state where any adult lived in the past 10 years triggers an out-of-state child-abuse registry check required by federal law.

Can my sister be one of my three references?

No. Relatives by blood or marriage are not permitted references under Rule 402.12; replace them with a non-relative who has known you for years.

Is there a filing fee for CFS 600?

No. DCFS does not charge a filing fee for foster family home, day care home, or relative caregiver licensing applications.

Do I write my street address or my P.O. Box in Box 7?

No P.O. Boxes in Box 7. Box 7 must be the physical street address where the child will live; the P.O. Box goes in Box 8 (mailing address).

Can I file CFS 600 by fax?

No. DCFS does not accept fax filings of CFS 600 because the perjury signature must be wet ink or authenticated e-signature.

Will DCFS deny me for low income?

No. Income is not means-tested, but you must show enough income to meet your own family’s needs without the foster board payment under Rule 402.10.

Do both spouses have to sign even if only one wants to foster?

Yes. Both spouses are co-applicants on a married-couple license, and both signatures are mandatory on the certification page.

Is the medical report CFS 602 required for children in my home too?

Yes. Every household member, adult or child, needs a current CFS 602 completed within the past 12 months.

Can I use blue ink instead of black?

No. DCFS recordkeeping standards under Rule 383 require black ink for permanent legibility on scanned and microfilmed records.

Does a pending divorce stop my application?

No, but it can pause it. Write PENDING with the case number; DCFS may hold the file until the divorce is final because parental rights and finances must be settled.

How long is my license valid once issued?

Yes, four years. Renewal applications use the same CFS 600 form with the Renewal box checked, filed within 60 days of expiration.

What if I make a mistake after signing?

No white-out is allowed. Strike through with a single line, write the correction, and initial and date next to the change so the audit trail is preserved.