.04  Requirements for Resource Homes.

A. Health and Safety.

(1) The worker shall assess the home using a home health and safety survey approved by the Administration to ensure that the home meets health and safety standards; and

(2) If a worker has concerns about the health and safety of the home, the worker may request that the local health department or other certified inspector inspect the home, which may include water and lead testing.

B. Fire Safety.

(1) The worker shall assess the home for fire safety using a fire safety survey approved by the Administration.

(2) The resource home shall have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

(3) If a worker has concerns about fire safety, the worker may request that a fire marshal or other certified fire inspector complete an inspection of the home.

C. General Safety Requirements.

(1) Firearms and Ammunition.

(a) All firearms in the resource home shall be unloaded, stored in a locked storage area, and inaccessible to children.

(b) All ammunition shall be stored separately from the firearms in a locked storage area, inaccessible to children.

(c) The resource parent shall take all safety precautions to ensure that firearms are not used to injure children in the resource home.

(d) The worker shall obtain assurances from the applicant that no loaded firearms will be kept in the resource home unless required because a state, federal, or local law enforcement officer lives in the household and maintains and stores the firearms, in accordance with state, federal, and local law enforcement safety procedures.

(2) Potentially dangerous materials. A resource parent shall ensure that prescription and non-prescription medication, dangerous household supplies, tools, and any other potentially dangerous items are inaccessible to children.

(3) Window Coverings. A window covering installed before October 1, 2010, may not have unsecured cords, beads, ropes, or strings. Any window covering installed after October 1, 2010, shall be cordless.

(4) Sleeping and Living Areas. The resource home shall:

(a) Provide the child in care space for privacy, studying, and the storage of clothes, toys, and personal possessions; and

(b) Provide a safe sleeping arrangement for the child in care as follows:

(i) A sleeping arrangement may include a bunk bed, trundle bed, or another safe permanent arrangement the local department deems appropriate;

(ii) A child in care under two years old shall sleep in a crib or other secure bed that will ensure the child in care’s safety;

(iii) Except for a child in care younger than 2 years, children in care of opposite genders may not sleep in the same room unless otherwise approved by the local department;

(iv) A child in care 2 years old or older may not share a bedroom with an adult unless otherwise approved by the local department; and

(v) A child in care may not share a bed with an adult or another child.

(5) Pets. A resource parent who has a pet in the home shall:

(a) Provide age-appropriate supervision when the child in care is interacting with the pet; and

(b) Keep the pet up to date on rabies vaccinations.

(6) Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, Spas, Waterfront Properties, Fish or Duck Ponds, and Similar Bodies of Water.

(a) A resource parent shall provide supervision with regard to water safety appropriate for a child in care's age and ability.

(b) The resource home worker shall:

(i) Discuss requirements for barriers and safety mechanisms to ensure the safety of children in care; and

(ii) Inspect the pool, hot tub, spa, waterfront property, fish or duck pond, or similar body of water for safety compliance.

(c) A resource parent shall ensure that any swimming pool, fish or duck pond, or similar body of water at the resource home:

(i) Is maintained in a safe and sanitary condition; and

(ii) Complies with county zoning, building, or health codes or ordinances.

(d) With regard to an in-ground pool, the resource parent shall have the pool area enclosed by a fence at least four feet high with a gate that can be locked or have another safety mechanism to prevent access to the pool from the resource home;

(e) With regard to an above-ground swimming pool or hot tub, the resource parent shall have:

(i) Retractable or removable ladders that shall be locked when not in use or stored away from the pool; and

(ii) A pool with sides at least four feet above the ground at all points or fencing around a pool that is at least four feet high at all points;

(f) All doors and gates that access a pool, hot tub, or spa shall have locks;

(g) If a pool, hot tub, or spa has a deck area with a door, the door shall be locked;

(h) All permanent steps to the pool, hot tub, or spa shall have a locked gate;

(i) A pool, hot tub, or spa shall not have climbable objects on the exterior;

(j) Hot tubs or spas shall be securely covered when not in use;

(k) When there is waterfront property, a fish or duck pond, or a similar body of water at or near the resource home, the local department may require that the body of water or the resource home be fenced with a locked gate or have other safety mechanisms in place;

(l) A resource parent shall have at least one individual currently trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) present at the resource home's swimming pool and water recreation area when being used by a child in care;

(m) Upon consideration of the following, a local director may give a resource parent a written exemption from one or more provisions of this subsection if doing so does not violate zoning, building or safety codes, or related ordinances;

(i) The age, special needs, and swimming ability of the child in care placed in the resource home;

(ii) The proximity and location of the pool, hot tub, spa, or body of water to the resource home; and

(iii) Any other safety mechanism in place that ensures the safety of the child in care.