Current through August 31, 2023
The property, structure, premises, and furnishings of a
foster home must be constructed and maintained in good repair, in a clean
condition, with proper trash and recycling disposal, and free from rodents or
insect infestation, safety hazards, and dangerous machinery and equipment.
Areas and equipment that present a hazard to children must not be accessible by
children. (3-28-23)
01.
Living
Space. The living space or structure of a foster home will be a house,
mobile home (as defined under Title 39, Chapter 41, Idaho Code), housing unit,
or apartment occupied by an individual or family. (3-28-23)
02.
Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, Ponds,
and Other Bodies of Water for Use by Children. Any licensed foster home
with these water hazards on or adjacent to their property must provide the
following safeguards: (3-28-23)
a. Around any
of the water hazards listed in Subsection
430.02 of this rule, a foster
child must have appropriate adult supervision consistent with the child's age,
physical ability, and developmental level; (3-28-23)
b. The area surrounding a body of water must
be fenced and locked in a manner that prevents access by children under the age
of twelve (12), children of any age who are not competent swimmers, or children
who are developmentally younger than their chronological age of twelve (12); or
(3-28-23)
c. Above ground pools
must have a four-foot barrier that may be the pool structure or attached
fencing, or both with a maximum vertical clearance between the top of the pool
and the bottom of the barrier not exceeding four (4) inches; and (3-28-23)
i. The ladder must be removed and stored
inaccessible to children under the age of twelve (12) when not in use; and
(3-28-23)
ii. If the ladder cannot
be removed, the steps or ladder must be surrounded by a barrier as required in
Subsection 430.01.b of this rule.
(3-28-23)
d. If the area
surrounding any of the water hazards listed in Subsection
430.02 of this rule, is not
fenced and locked, there must be a secured protective covering that will not
allow access by a child. (3-28-23)
i. Pool or
hot tub covers must be completely removed when in use; (3-28-23)
ii. When the pool or hot tub cover is in
place, the cover must be free from standing water; (3-28-23)
iii. Covers must always be locked when the
pool or hot tub is not in use. (3-28-23)
03.
Access by Children Five Years Old
and Under. Any licensed foster home that cares for children five (5)
years old and under and chooses to prevent access to a body of water by fencing
must provide a fence that meets the following: (3-28-23)
a. The fence must be at least four (4) feet
high with no vertical opening more than four (4) inches wide, be designed so
that a young child cannot climb or squeeze under or through the fence, and
surround all sides of the pool or pond; (3-28-23)
b. The gate must be self-closing and have a
self-latching mechanism in proper working order out of the reach of young
children; (3-28-23)
c. If the house
forms one (1) side of the barrier for the pool, doors that provide unrestricted
access to the pool must have alarms that produce an audible sound when the
doors are opened; and (3-28-23)
d.
Furniture or other large objects must not be left near the fence that would
enable a child to climb on the furniture and gain access to the pool; or
(3-28-23)
e. Above ground pools
meet the requirements in Subsection
430.01.c in this rule.
(3-28-23)
04.
Irrigation Canals or Similar Body of Water. A licensed foster home
caring for a child five (5) years old and under or a child who is physically or
developmentally vulnerable, whose property adjoins an irrigation canal or
similar body of water, must have fencing that prevents access to the canal or
similar body of water by the child. (3-28-23)
05.
Other Water Safety
Precautions. (3-28-23)
a. Wading pools
must be empty when not being used; (3-28-23)
b. Children must be under direct supervision
of an adult while using a wading pool; (3-28-23)
c. Toys that attract young children to the
pool area must be kept picked up and away from the pool area when not in use;
(3-28-23)
d. A child who does not
know how to swim must use an approved lifesaving personal flotation device;
(3-28-23)
e. All swimming pools
will be equipped with a life-saving device, such as a ring buoy; and
(3-28-23)
f. Swimming pools that
cannot be emptied after each use will have a working pump and filtration
system. (3-28-23)
