How to Become a Family Home Health Aide in Florida (FHHA Program for Parents)
Caring for a medically fragile child at home is deeply personal. Parents and family caregivers often manage routines, appointments, comfort, safety, and daily care needs long before they ever hear the term Family Home Health Aide.
In Florida, eligible family caregivers may be able to become Family Home Health Aides, also called FHHAs, through a participating licensed home health agency when the child and caregiver meet program requirements.
How to Become a Family Home Health Aide in Florida: FHHA Program for Parents
Florida’s Family Home Health Aide Program may allow an eligible parent, guardian, or family caregiver to complete approved training and work through a participating licensed home health agency to provide approved aide support for a medically fragile child under 21 who already qualifies for Private Duty Nursing.
FHHA is not automatic for every family. Approval and payment may depend on child eligibility, caregiver eligibility, physician orders, agency employment, training completion, background screening, payer rules, Medicaid or managed care requirements, and service authorization.
What may be possible
An eligible family caregiver may complete approved training and become employed by a participating licensed home health agency to provide approved aide support.
What is not automatic
FHHA does not guarantee approval, payment, a specific wage, a specific number of hours, Medicaid coverage, or service authorization.
What Is a Family Home Health Aide?
A Family Home Health Aide is an eligible family caregiver who completes approved training and works with a licensed home health agency to provide aide support for a medically fragile child at home.
This is different from general caregiving. FHHA is connected to the child’s medical needs, care plan, Private Duty Nursing eligibility, and home health agency supervision. AHCA describes the FHHA Program as one that trains and employs family caregivers to provide safe, quality home health aide services for medically fragile children. Review AHCA’s FHHA guidance.
Who Can Become a Family Home Health Aide in Florida?
FHHA eligibility depends on both the child and the family caregiver.
A child may qualify if they are:
- Under 21
- Medically fragile
- Eligible for Private Duty Nursing
- Receiving care based on medical need and a plan of care
- Able to receive services safely at home or in the community when appropriate
A family caregiver may qualify if they:
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Are a related provider, legal guardian, or caretaker relative of the child
- Can demonstrate minimum competency to read and write
- Complete approved FHHA training or meet a qualifying nursing education exception
- Pass required background screening
- Become employed by a participating licensed home health agency
Your Child Must Qualify for Private Duty Nursing First
Before a family caregiver can become a Family Home Health Aide, the child must already qualify for Private Duty Nursing, also called PDN.
Private Duty Nursing is medically necessary skilled nursing provided at home or in the community for children under 21 with complex medical needs. AHCA states that the child must already qualify for PDN before FHHA services can be considered.
FHHA does not replace Private Duty Nursing. FHHA hours are meant to be coordinated with PDN, not added on top of authorized nursing hours. AHCA states FHHA cannot duplicate or add to already authorized nurse hours, cannot replace skilled nursing time, and cannot run at the same time as PDN.
What FHHA Training Is Required in Florida?
Florida’s FHHA training requirement includes at least 76 total hours before the caregiver provides services.
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 individualized care needs.
16 Hours
At least 16 hours of clinical training related to the child’s needs under direct supervision of a licensed registered nurse.
Florida Statute 400.4765 also requires HIV training and current CPR certification. The employing home health agency must provide competency validation by a registered nurse and maintain documentation of training completion and competency validation. Review Florida Statute 400.4765.
Can Family Home Health Aides Be Paid?
An eligible family caregiver may be able to receive compensation if all program, agency, payer, training, employment, and authorization requirements are met.
However, training alone does not guarantee payment, employment, Medicaid coverage, or service authorization.
AHCA lists an agency reimbursement rate of $25/hour under Medicaid fee-for-service, and managed care plans may negotiate rates with agencies. This reimbursement rate is not the same as a guaranteed caregiver wage. Employee pay may depend on agency employment, payer rules, authorization, taxes, withholdings, and other employment factors. Review AHCA’s reimbursement guidance.
Does FHHA Replace Private Duty Nursing?
No. FHHA does not replace Private Duty Nursing. FHHA is aide-level support. Private Duty Nursing is skilled nursing care.
FHHA services must be coordinated with the child’s care schedule. FHHA cannot simply be added on top of approved nursing hours and cannot overlap with approved PDN services. Florida law states that services provided by a home health aide for medically fragile children must reduce the eligible relative’s Private Duty Nursing service hours and may not be provided concurrently with any Private Duty Nursing service.
Will FHHA Pay Affect Medicaid?
FHHA wages may affect Medicaid eligibility.
AHCA currently states that wages earned for FHHA work are counted as earned income for Medicaid eligibility and may change the child’s coverage group. Florida law also allows families to request that DCF evaluate FHHA income for exclusion in the child’s Medicaid eligibility determination.
Families should confirm details with DCF, AHCA, their Medicaid managed care plan, or the home health agency before making decisions. Dynamiks Home Care can help explain the home care process, but Medicaid eligibility questions should be confirmed with the appropriate state agency or Medicaid plan.
What FHHA Does Not Automatically Guarantee
The Family Home Health Aide Program may help eligible families, but it does not automatically guarantee approval or payment.
Eligibility
FHHA does not automatically mean every child or every parent qualifies.
Payment
Training does not guarantee payment, employment, service authorization, or a specific caregiver wage.
Nursing Hours
FHHA does not replace Private Duty Nursing and cannot overlap with approved nursing hours.
- Training can be skipped
- A background check can be skipped
- Medicaid eligibility will stay the same
- A specific number of hours will be authorized
- A specific caregiver wage is guaranteed
How to Start the FHHA Process
1. Confirm PDN Status
Your child must already qualify for Private Duty Nursing before FHHA services can be considered.
2. Contact an Agency
A family caregiver must work with a licensed home health agency that participates in the program.
3. Review Eligibility
The agency can help explain next steps based on your child’s needs, location, and current support.
4. Complete Training
The caregiver must complete approved FHHA training before providing services.
5. Complete Screening
The caregiver must meet required background screening requirements.
6. Follow the Care Plan
If approved, services are coordinated through the home health agency and must follow the child’s plan of care.
How Dynamiks Home Care Helps Families
Dynamiks Home Care helps families understand the FHHA process in clear, supportive language.
- FHHA training interest
- Pediatric home care
- Private Duty Nursing for children
- Home health aide services
- Care coordination
- Service availability in your area
- Questions about next steps
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 Private Duty Nursing support in Florida.
Family Home Health Aide Program
Learn more about FHHA training, eligibility, and support for medically fragile children.
Explore FHHA →Private Duty Nursing for Children
Learn how PDN supports children with complex or ongoing medical needs at home.
Learn about PDN →Pediatric Home Care in Florida
Understand pediatric home care, personal pediatric care, and support for children at home.
Explore pediatric care →Family Home Health Aide FAQs
What is a Family Home Health Aide in Florida?
A Family Home Health Aide is an eligible family caregiver who completes approved training and works with a licensed home health agency to provide aide support for a medically fragile child under 21 at home.
Can a parent become a Family Home Health Aide?
A parent or approved family caregiver may be able to participate if the child and caregiver meet program requirements.
Does my child need Private Duty Nursing first?
Yes. The child must already qualify for Private Duty Nursing before FHHA services can be considered.
How many hours of training are required?
Florida requires at least 76 total hours of FHHA training, including at least 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.
Can I get paid to care for my child?
An eligible family caregiver may be able to receive compensation if all program requirements are met. Training alone does not guarantee payment, employment, Medicaid coverage, or service authorization.
Does FHHA replace nursing?
No. FHHA does not replace skilled nursing and cannot overlap with approved Private Duty Nursing hours.
Will FHHA wages affect Medicaid eligibility?
FHHA wages may affect Medicaid eligibility. AHCA states the wages are counted as earned income for Medicaid eligibility and may change the child’s coverage group, while Florida law also allows families to request income exclusion review through DCF. Families should confirm details with DCF, AHCA, the Medicaid plan, or the home health agency.
Ready to Talk About FHHA in Florida?
If you care for a medically fragile child and want to understand whether Florida’s Family Home Health Aide Program may be an option, Dynamiks Home Care can help explain the next steps.
