What safety requirements does my home have to meet?

All resource homes must meet state standards meant to ensure that they are comfortable, clean, safe, sanitary, and in good repair. Resource homes must: have a working smoke detector in the hallway outside each sleeping area, securely lock up any firearms or weapons, and lock ammunition separately, make the following items inaccessible to children. All dangerous items and toxic substances, including all medicines, garden and workshop chemicals, automotive fluids, household chemicals, and most cleansers must be kept out of reach. How these items are kept out of the children’s reach will depend on the ages of the children you care for and their abilities. 


Exceptions may be made to allow teenagers to have access to certain items. If the home has young children, electrical outlets should be covered and stairs must have gates at the top and bottom. Balcony railings and most fences may not have uncovered spaces more than four inches across between the balusters. Young children must be directly supervised by a responsible adult whenever they are outside unless there is a safe and properly fenced play area. Pools, hot tubs and other bodies of water must be properly fenced or have a locked cover if the home is licensed to care for children under 10 years of age, or if there is an older child in care with special needs which might make a body of water more hazardous to him / her. 


At times other hazards or concerns are noted during a home visit. In this case, the social worker will discuss your options with you to ensure that your home will meet standards. You are responsible for any expenses involved in preparing your home. Please discuss your plans with us before investing a great deal of time or money in preparing your home for resource care. For further information, contact us at 707-253-4761.

Show All Answers

1. What is resource parenting?
2. Why do some children need resource care?
3. What is “kinship care”?
4. What are children in foster care like?
5. What does it take to be a resource parent?
6. How do I know if resource parenting is right for me and my family?
7. How are children placed in homes?
8. What happens to children when they are first removed from their birth families?
9. How long will a child be in my home?
10. What if I want to adopt a child?
11. How long will I wait before a child comes to live with me?
12. May I choose the child I want?
13. Will I get to meet the child before he / she comes to live with me?
14. Will the birth parents know where I live?
15. Do I need to be married to be a resource parent? Can I be divorced and be a resource parent?
16. What about if I rent my home?
17. Am I too old to be a resource parent?
18. Can I be a resource parent if I am working?
19. Can a foster child go to church with us?
20. Do foster children need individual bedrooms?
21. What are the financial arrangements?
22. What is licensing?
23. What if I need help?
24. Will I ever get to see the children again?
25. I know a child who I might want to have live with me. What should I do?
26. Can I place a foster child in day care?
27. Why do I need to take classes before resource parenting? I know how to raise children.
28. What can I expect when the licensing social worker visits my home?
29. What safety requirements does my home have to meet?