Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-113.5 - Physical standards
(1)
General standards. The foster home shall be safe, clean, well
ventilated, properly lighted, properly heated, and free from vermin and rodents
to ensure the well-being of the child (ren) residing in the home.
(2)
Grounds.
a. There shall be safe outdoor space provided
according to the age and developmental needs of the child (ren) for active play.
The area available shall be documented in the case record.
b. The child (ren) shall be adequately
supervised and protected against hazards including, but not limited to,
traffic, bodies of water, railroads, waste material, and contaminated water.
The foster parent shall provide environmental protections such as door alarms,
baby monitors, fences, and foliage barriers as necessary to promote a safe
environment.
c. The applicant's
home must meet the following standards concerning swimming pools, hot tubs and
spas:
(1) A child 's plastic pool shall be
drained daily and shall be inaccessible to the child (ren) when it is not in
use. Swimming pools must have a barrier on all sides at least four feet
high.
(2) An aboveground or
in-ground swimming pool that is not fenced shall be covered whenever the pool
is not in use. The cover shall meet or exceed the ASTM International (formerly
known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) specification intended
to reduce the risk of drowning by inhibiting access to the water by children
under five years of age. Swimming pools must have their methods of access
through the barrier equipped with a safety device, such as a bolt
lock.
(3) Swimming pools must be
equipped with a lifesaving device, such as a ring buoy.
(4) If the swimming pool cannot be emptied
after each use, the pool must have a working pump and filtering
system.
(5) Hot tubs and spas must
have safety covers that are locked when not in use.
The foster parent or other adult shall provide reasonable
supervision according to the ages and swimming abilities of the
(3)
Bedrooms for child (ren) placed in
the home.
a. Bedrooms shall either
have been constructed for the purpose of providing sleeping accommodation or
remodeled for sleeping to provide proper heat and ventilation. Bedroom
additions to a home shall meet building code requirements. All bedrooms used by
the child (ren) placed in the home shall have:
(1) Permanent walls;
(2) A door that closes;
(3) An unobstructed, operable window that
opens from the inside that is large enough to allow for an unrestricted exit by
the child (ren) placed in the home;
(4) A closet, wardrobe, armoire, or dresser
for the child (ren)'s clothes; and
(5) A standard bed, for infants and toddlers
who cannot safely use a standard bed, a crib or crib-like furniture which has a
waterproof mattress covering and sufficient bedding to enable the child (ren) to
rest comfortably and which meets the current standards or recommendations from
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission or ASTM International for juvenile
products for each child under two years of age if developmentally appropriate.
The provider shall follow safe sleep practices as recommended by the American
Academy of Pediatrics for infants under the age of one. Safe infant sleep
practices shall conform to the following standards:
1. Infants shall always be placed on their
backs for sleep.
2. Infants shall
be placed on a firm mattress with a tight fitting sheet that meets U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission federal standards.
3. Infants shall not be allowed to sleep on a
bed, sof a, air mattress or other soft surface. No child (ren) shall be allowed
to sleep in any item not designed for sleeping. This is not referring to a
child in a car seat in a car.
4. No
toys, soft objects, stuffed animals, pillows, bumper pads, blankets, or loose
bedding shall be allowed in the sleeping area with the infant.
5. No co-sleeping shall be allowed.
6. If an alternate sleeping position is
needed for an infant, a signed authorization with a statement of a medical
reason is required and shall be submitted by a physician, advanced registered
nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
b. The minimum bedroom area per child shall
be 40 square feet. However, the service area manager or designee may approve a
waiver of this non-safety licensing standard for kinship caregivers or a
variance when approval is in the best interest of specific children placed or
to be placed in the home. Such approvals shall:
(1) Be in writing;
(2) Contain the names and birth dates of the
child (ren) for whom issued; and
(3)
Be reviewed at each license renewal.
c. When bedrooms meet only minimum
requirements, the home shall provide additional room in other parts of the home
for study and play.
d. The ceiling
height for bedrooms shall be adequate for the child (ren).
e. Except for baby video monitors for the
child (ren) birth to two years of age used in their bedrooms, video or
surveillance cameras are not allowed in the child (ren)'s bedrooms or
bathrooms.
f. Bedrooms belowground
shall:
(1) Be free from excessive dampness,
noxious gases, and objectionable odors;
(2) Have access to at least one direct exit
to the outside from the level belowground and one inside stairway exit from the
level belowground;
(3) Have an
egress window with a clear opening area with an opening height of 24 inches and
an opening width of 20 inches or an opening height of 20 inches and an opening
width of 24 inches;
(4) Have
provisions, such as a ladder or steps, to ensure that the child (ren) can safely
reach the window if the finished sill height is more than 44 inches above the
floor and that the child (ren) can safely reach ground level if there is a
window well that has a depth of 44 inches or higher;
(5) Have a finished ceiling such as drywall
or a drop ceiling; and
(6) Have a
covered floor.
(4)
All rooms aboveground.
Rescinded IAB 10/3/12, effective 12/1/12.
(5)
Rooms belowground.
Rescinded IAB 10/3/12, effective 12/1/12.
(6)
Physical care standards for
child (ren).
a. Grouping children in
bedrooms shall take into consideration the age and sex of the child (ren),
including the individual child 's need for privacy.
(1) Any child (ren) over five years of age
shall not share a bedroom with child (ren) of the opposite sex.
(2) The child (ren) shall not share a bed with
any other child . The social work administrator may approve a waiver of this
policy for kinship caregivers or a variance for non-kinship
caregivers.
b. Any
child (ren) two years of age or older shall be provided bedroom space other than
in the foster parents' bedroom. Any child (ren) under the age of two may share a
bedroom with the foster parent in an individual crib.
c. There shall be a plan for isolating the
healthy child (ren) from a child who is ill or suspected of having a contagious
disease.
d. The foster home shall
provide food with good nutritional content and in sufficient quantity to meet
the individual needs of the child (ren).
e. Personal care items must be provided for
youth, and these items must reflect the individual, cultural, racial, and
ethnic needs of the youth living in the foster home.
f. Bedding shall be clean, odor-free, and
free of urine and feces.
g. Foster
parents shall follow universal precautions to reduce exposure to bloodborne
pathogens and other infectious materials when providing care to any child (ren)
placed in their physical custody.
h. Smoking and vaping shall be prohibited in
the foster home or any vehicle when the child (ren) are present.
(7)
Lead-based
paint. If the applicant lives in a home built before 1978, the
applicant shall submit Form 470-4819, certifying that the applicant:
a. Has conducted a visual assessment for lead
hazards that exist in the form of peeling or chipping paint; and
b. Has applied interim controls using safe
work methods if the presence of peeling or chipping paint is found, unless an
inspector certified pursuant to department of public health rules at
641-Chapter 70 has determined that the paint is not lead-based. "Interim
controls" are measures designed to temporarily reduce human exposure or likely
exposure to lead-based paint hazards, such as repairing deteriorated lead-based
paint, specialized cleaning, maintenance, painting, and temporary
containment.
(8)
Artificial lighting. Adequate artificial lighting fixtures
shall be provided for study in areas where the child (ren) will be
studying.
(9)
Bathroom
facilities.
a. Bathroom facilities
shall have at least one toilet, sink, and tub or shower in safe operating
condition.
b. Bathroom facilities
shall have natural or artificial ventilation.
(10)
Heating plant.
a. The heating plant shall have a capacity to
maintain a temperature of approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the bedrooms
with the door closed.
b. Fireplaces
and water heaters shall be vented to the outside atmosphere. The temperature of
any water heaters must be set in accordance with the manufacturer's
recommendations. Kerosene heaters and gas-fired space heaters shall not be used
to heat any space in the home.
(11)
Ventilation.
Ventilation shall be provided in all rooms where the child (ren) eat, sleep, and
play either by windows which can be opened or by mechanical venting systems.
Windows and doors used for ventilation shall be screened.
(12)
Phone. A working phone
or access to a working phone shall be in close walking proximity to an
applicant's living space.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 237.3.
Notes
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