Getting Paid to Care for Your Own Child in Florida: How the FHHA Program Actually Works
Yes, a parent or eligible family caregiver may be able to get paid to care for a medically fragile child in Florida, but it is not automatic. The main pathway is Florida’s Family Home Health Aide Program, also called FHHA, which allows eligible family members to be trained and employed by a licensed home health agency to provide approved aide services for a medically fragile child under 21.
The child must already qualify for Private Duty Nursing, the caregiver must meet program requirements, and services must follow the child’s care plan, agency supervision, Medicaid or managed care rules, and authorization requirements.
Can a Parent Get Paid to Care for a Medically Fragile Child in Florida?
In many cases, yes. Florida’s Family Home Health Aide Program may allow an eligible parent, guardian, or related caregiver to complete approved training and become employed by a licensed home health agency to provide aide services for a medically fragile child at home.
This is not a shortcut or informal caregiver arrangement. It is a regulated employment pathway with training, competency validation, background screening, agency supervision, documentation, payer requirements, and care-plan rules.
What may be possible
An eligible family caregiver may be trained and employed by a participating home health agency to provide approved aide-level support for a medically fragile child.
What is not automatic
FHHA does not guarantee eligibility, approval, payment, Medicaid coverage, service authorization, or a specific number of hours.
What Is the Family Home Health Aide Program?
The Family Home Health Aide Program, often called FHHA, allows an eligible family member or guardian to be trained and employed by a licensed home health agency to provide home health aide services for a medically fragile child under 21 at home.
AHCA describes the program as one that trains and employs family caregivers to provide safe, quality home health aide services for medically fragile children. AHCA also states that the child must already qualify for Private Duty Nursing before FHHA services can be considered. Review AHCA’s FHHA guidance.
Plain-English Summary
FHHA may help a qualified family caregiver receive training, become employed through a participating home health agency, and provide approved aide support for their medically fragile child. It is connected to the child’s care plan and must be coordinated with Private Duty Nursing.
Child Eligibility: What Must Be True First?
The child side of eligibility matters first. Before a parent or family caregiver can be considered for FHHA, the child generally must meet the program’s clinical and age requirements.
- The child must be under 21.
- The child must be medically fragile.
- The child must already qualify for Private Duty Nursing.
- The child’s care must be ordered and coordinated through the appropriate plan of care.
- Services must be approved and scheduled according to payer, agency, and care-plan requirements.
Examples may include children with tracheostomy care needs, ventilator dependence, feeding tubes, seizure disorders, cerebral palsy, post-NICU complexity, mobility limitations, or other medically complex needs. Final eligibility should be confirmed through the child’s provider, Medicaid or managed care plan, and the participating home health agency.
Parent and Family Caregiver Eligibility
The caregiver must also qualify. Florida law allows a home health agency to employ a home health aide for medically fragile children when the person meets program requirements.
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be a family caregiver of an eligible relative.
- Demonstrate minimum competency to read and write.
- Complete an approved training program or meet a qualifying nursing education exception.
- Successfully pass required background screening.
- Become employed by a participating licensed home health agency.
Parents, guardians, caretaker relatives, and certain related caregivers may be considered, depending on the child’s situation and payer rules. Families should avoid assuming eligibility until the agency and plan review the details.
How Much Training Is Required?
Florida’s FHHA training requirement includes at least 76 total hours before services are provided. Florida Statute 400.4765 outlines the required training components.
40 Hours
At least 40 hours of home health aide training.
20 Hours
Minimum 20 hours of child-specific basic nursing skills training tailored to the child’s care needs.
16 Hours
At least 16 hours of clinical training under direct supervision of a licensed registered nurse.
The law also requires training on HIV infections and current CPR certification. The employing home health agency must validate competency through a registered nurse and maintain training documentation. Review Florida Statute 400.4765.
What About Pay, Hours, and Medicaid?
A parent or eligible family caregiver may be paid only when the program requirements, agency employment requirements, and service authorization requirements are met. The caregiver is employed by the home health agency, not paid casually by the family.
AHCA states that agencies are reimbursed at $25 per hour under Medicaid fee-for-service, while managed care plans may negotiate rates with agencies. That reimbursement rate is not the same thing as a guaranteed employee wage for every caregiver. Review AHCA’s pay guidance.
Medicaid Income Note
FHHA wages may affect Medicaid eligibility. AHCA states that wages earned for FHHA work are counted as earned income for Medicaid eligibility at this time, which may change the child’s coverage group. Families should speak with DCF, AHCA, the Medicaid managed care plan, or the home health agency before making decisions.
Does FHHA Replace Private Duty Nursing?
No. FHHA does not replace Private Duty Nursing. AHCA states that FHHA hours are meant to supplement PDN and cannot duplicate or add to already authorized nurse hours. FHHA should not replace skilled nursing time or run at the same time as PDN.
Florida law also states that services provided by a home health aide for medically fragile children must reduce an eligible relative’s Private Duty Nursing service hours and may not be provided concurrently with any Private Duty Nursing service.
- FHHA is coordinated with the child’s care plan.
- FHHA does not create unlimited additional hours.
- FHHA does not replace skilled nursing care.
- FHHA cannot overlap with approved PDN services.
How to Start the FHHA Process
The process can vary depending on the child’s current services, Medicaid plan, medical documentation, agency participation, and authorization status. A practical starting path looks like this:
1. Confirm PDN Status
Your child must already qualify for Private Duty Nursing before FHHA services can be considered.
2. Contact an Agency
Speak with a participating licensed home health agency that understands pediatric care and FHHA requirements.
3. Review Next Steps
The agency can help explain training, screening, documentation, care-plan coordination, and payer requirements.
What to Ask Before Choosing an Agency
Not every home health agency supports FHHA the same way. Before moving forward, ask clear questions so you understand the process.
- Do you currently participate in FHHA services for medically fragile children?
- Which Medicaid managed care plans do you work with?
- Who provides or coordinates the required training?
- Who supervises the family caregiver once employed?
- What documentation is required for each shift?
- How are hours scheduled around Private Duty Nursing?
- What happens if the child’s authorized hours change?
- Can your team support bilingual families or Spanish-speaking caregivers?
How Dynamiks Home Care Can Help
Dynamiks Home Care helps families understand FHHA, Private Duty Nursing, pediatric home care, and home health aide support for medically fragile children.
- FHHA eligibility questions
- Private Duty Nursing coordination
- Pediatric home care support
- Home health aide services
- Care-plan guidance
- Service availability by location
Dynamiks Home Care supports families across West Palm Beach, Coral Springs, Fort Myers, Sebring, Orlando, Melbourne, and nearby Florida communities.
Related Resources and Services
Use these pages to continue learning about FHHA, pediatric care, and home health support in Florida.
Family Home Health Aide Program in Florida
Learn more about FHHA training, eligibility, and support for medically fragile children.
Explore FHHA →Pediatric Home Care in Florida
Understand pediatric home care, personal pediatric care, and support for children at home.
Explore pediatric care →Private Duty Nursing for Children
Learn how PDN supports children with complex or ongoing medical needs at home.
Learn about PDN →Paid Parent Caregiver FAQs
Can a parent get paid to care for a medically fragile child in Florida?
Yes, a parent or eligible family caregiver may be able to get paid through the Family Home Health Aide Program if the child and caregiver meet all requirements and services are authorized through the appropriate payer and agency process.
Does my child need to qualify for Private Duty Nursing first?
Yes. AHCA states that the child must already qualify for Private Duty Nursing before FHHA services can be considered.
Does FHHA guarantee payment?
No. FHHA training does not automatically guarantee payment, employment, Medicaid coverage, approval, or service authorization.
How much FHHA training is required?
Florida requires at least 76 total hours, including 40 hours of home health aide training, 20 hours of child-specific basic nursing skills training, 16 hours of RN-supervised clinical training, HIV training, and CPR certification.
Does FHHA replace a nurse?
No. FHHA does not replace skilled nursing care and cannot run at the same time as Private Duty Nursing services.
Will FHHA wages affect Medicaid eligibility?
They may. AHCA states that FHHA wages are counted as earned income for Medicaid eligibility at this time, so families should speak with DCF, AHCA, the Medicaid plan, or the home health agency.
Can Dynamiks Home Care help me understand if this may apply to my child?
Yes. Dynamiks Home Care can help explain FHHA, Private Duty Nursing, pediatric home care, home health aide services, and possible next steps based on your child’s needs and location.
Ready to Find Out if FHHA May Be an Option?
If you are caring for a medically fragile child and want to understand whether you may be able to get paid through Florida’s FHHA pathway, Dynamiks Home Care can help explain the next steps.
