Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 6, March 26, 2024
A.
Living space: The applicant's home may be a house, mobile home, housing unit or
apartment occupied by an individual or family.
B. Condition of the home: The applicant's
home and all structures on the grounds of the property must be maintained in a
clean, safe, and sanitary condition and in a reasonable state of repair within
community standards. The home must satisfy the following living space
standards:
(1) be free from objects,
materials, and conditions that constitute a danger;
(2) prevent or eliminate rodent and insect
infestation;
(3) have capability
for regular disposal of trash and recycling, if recycling is available in the
area;
(4) have a working phone or
access to a working phone in close walking proximity;
(5) have at least one toilet, sink, and tub
or shower in safe operating condition;
(6) have kitchen facilities with a sink,
refrigerator, stove, and oven in safe operating condition;
(7) have heating and or cooling as required
by the geographic area, consistent with the accepted community standards and in
safe operating condition;
(8) have
ventilation where household members and children in foster care eat, sleep,
study and play. This includes ventilation for fuel-burning equipment for
heating.
(9) have adequate lighting
as required by the geographic area, consistent with the accepted community
standards and in safe operating condition;
(10) have access to or a continuous supply of
safe drinking water; and
(11) have
proper water heater temperature. Any water heater must be set in accordance
with the manufacturer's recommendations.
C. Household pets and animals:
(1) Any animal that poses a threat to the
safety or health of a child in foster care must be confined in a place away
from and inaccessible to the child, but in a manner that is in compliance with
state and local animal control codes and statutes.
(2) Pets that are required to be vaccinated
by state, county, local or tribal law must be vaccinated against diseases that
can transmit to humans, including but not limited to rabies.
D. Pools, hot tubs and spas:
(1) Shall have a barrier on all sides, such
as a fence or pool cover, and have a safety locking device such as a bolt lock.
If a barrier cannot be installed on all sides, children shall not have access
or be around to the area surrounding the pool without direct adult caregiver
line of sight supervision at all times;
(2) Shall be equipped with a life saving
device, such as a life preserver;
(3) If the swimming pool cannot be emptied
after each use, the swimming pool must have a working pump and filtering
system;
(4) Spas or hot tubs must
have safety covers that are locked when not in use; and
(5) All children using swimming pools or hot
tubs must be accompanied by an adult.
E. Capacity standards: The total number of
children in a foster care provider's home must not exceed eight, of which no
more than six may be children in foster care. PSD may determine lower
capacities based on the family assessment and home study. The number of foster
children cared for in a foster care provider home may exceed this numerical
limitation at the approval of the regional manager for one or more of the
following reasons:
(1) To allow a parenting
youth in foster care to remain with the child of the parenting youth;
(2) To allow siblings to remain
together;
(3) To allow a child with
an established meaningful relationship with the applicant's family to remain
with the family;
(4) To allow a
foster care provider with special training or skills to provide care to a child
who has a severe disability; and
(5) Other extenuating circumstances approved
at the discretion of the PSD regional manager.
F. Sleeping arrangements: The applicant's
home must provide the following sleeping standards, to include each child in
foster care has a safe sleeping space and are treated equitably.
(1) Sleeping supplies, such as a mattress and
linens to meet their basic needs;
(2) All cribs in the home must be in
compliance with Consumer Product Safety Commission standards;
(3) Sleeping arrangements shall be age and
developmentally appropriate for children in foster care placed in the home.
Co-sleeping or bed sharing, when a parent(s) and infant share a sleeping
surface, is prohibited. Room-sharing, when a parent(s) and infant or toddler
share a room, but sleeps on a separate sleeping surface, is
permitted;
(4) With PSD approval,
children, age appropriate, who are relatives, may share a bed;
(5) All bunk beds in the home must have
railings or PSD approved barriers on both sides to prevent falling;
(6) There must not be more than four children
total sharing a room used as a sleeping space, unless the children are
relatives and approved by PSD;
(7)
A child over the age of five may share a room with a child of a different
gender with PSD approval;
(8)
Sleeping quarters for foster children shall be a contiguous part of the main
family structure. Exceptions may be made for those children over the age of 16
who are preparing for independent living or for youth participating in the
extended foster care program.
G. Emergency preparedness, fire safety,
weapon storage, and evacuation plans: The applicant must meet the following
safety, fire, weapon storage, and evacuation plan standards. The licensing
agency shall assist relatives or fictive kin in bringing their home up to
standards, unless there is a major safety issue.
(1) electrical wiring shall be installed and
maintained in a manner that will not pose a hazard or risk to a child's safety
or health. Electrical extension cords shall not be used for general wiring. If
the licensing agent has doubts of the adequacy of electrical wiring, the
licensing agent shall request for a local electrical inspector to inspect the
wiring and submit a report to the licensing agent. The applicant is responsible
for obtaining and paying for this inspection, however, a relative or fictive
kin applicant who may need financial assistance shall contact PSD or the
licensing agent for further support.
(2) have at least one smoke detector on each
level of occupancy of the home and near all sleeping areas;
(3) have at least one carbon monoxide
detector on each level of occupancy of the home and at least one near all
sleeping areas;
(4) have at least
one operable valid fire extinguisher that is readily accessible;
(5) be free of obvious fire hazards, such as
defective heating equipment or improperly stored flammable materials. Household
heating equipment must be equipped with appropriate safeguards, maintained as
recommended by the manufacture;
(6)
have a written emergency evacuation plan to be reviewed with the child and
posted in a prominent place in the home;
(7) maintain a list of emergency telephone
numbers, including poison control, and post those numbers in a prominent place
in the home;
(8) have a written
emergency evacuation plan to be reviewed with the child within 24 hours of
placement in the home and posted in a prominent place in the home. The plan
must identify multiple exits from the home, and designate a central meeting
place close to the home that is known to the child yet at a safe distance from
potential danger.
(9) shall
maintain a stock of first aid supplies in the foster home, as recommended by
the American Red Cross. Examples of first aid supplies may include but are not
limited to:
(a) non-medicated adhesive
bandages
(b) adhesive roller
bandage;
(c) adhesive
tape;
(d) sterile first aid
dressings in sealed envelopes; and
(e) first aid cream or ointment.
(10) All weapons shall be stored
and locked and inaccessible to children. All firearms shall be unloaded, locked
and stored separately from ammunition. Ammunition shall be locked and stored
separately as per the PSD approved weapons safety agreement. The foster family
shall provide a signed copy of the PSD approved weapons safety agreement to the
licensing agent. The following items are considered weapons:
(a) firearms;
(b) air guns;
(c) BB guns;
(d) hunting bows;
(e) hunting slingshots; and
(f) any other projectile weapon.
(11) Applicants who are also law
enforcement officials, and can document their jurisdiction requires them to
have ready and immediate access to their weapons, may be exempt from these
weapons requirements provided the applicants adopt and follow a safety plan
approved by PSD.
H.
Hazardous materials: The applicant's home must prevent the child's access, as
appropriate for their age and development, to all medications (including
medical marijuana), poisonous materials, cleaning supplies, other hazardous
materials, and alcoholic beverages.
I. Transportation: Applicants shall have
access to reliable, legal and safe transportation. Reliable transportation
includes access to a properly maintained vehicle or access to public
transportation. If the applicant, familymember or friend operates an
automobile, the applicant, family member or friend providing transportation
shall have valid automobile insurance and registration as required by law and a
valid driver's license. Motor vehicles shall have safety restraints as required
by law and also shall have properly installed car seats for age appropriate
children.
J. Additional safety
standards: Any material of a sexual nature shall not be accessible by children.
Child pornography is illegal and never allowed in a foster home and will be
reported to law enforcement.
