Foster families: first-aid and CPR standards

First Aid & CPR California

Becoming a resource family in California means opening your home to a child or teen who cannot safely live with their own family. Among the steps to be approved: at least one caregiver must hold a current CPR and first-aid certificate before a child is placed.

The first-aid requirement

Under California's Resource Family Approval (RFA) process, applicants must complete CPR and first-aid certification covering infants, children and adults, delivered by a recognized organization. The training must be current and cover common emergencies such as choking, injuries and cardiac arrest.

The requirement is administered by the California Department of Social Services and the county child welfare agencies that approve resource families. The certificate must be kept up to date, and it is one requirement in addition to the home study, background checks and the assessment of parenting suitability.

Severe allergies and anaphylaxis

A recognized first-aid certificate covers recognizing and responding to severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), including the use of an epinephrine auto-injector.

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.

See the recognized first-aid courses in your region

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 region

References

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