Rule 5101:2-7-05 | Sleeping arrangements.
(A) The presence of a foster child in a foster home shall not cause any other resident of the home to be deprived of a bed or bedroom.
(B) A bedroom for foster children shall:
(1) Have at least one outside wall window. The window shall be screened and capable of opening and closing unless the room is provided with a ventilation system which provides fresh air such as a central air conditioning system.
(2) Accommodate no more than four children.
(3) Include storage space for personal belongings and closet or dresser space for clothing.
(4) Provide a safe and comfortable sleeping area ensuring reasonable privacy and access to adult supervision, as appropriate to the age and functioning level of each foster child.
(5) Not have the entry to a foster child's bedroom located so as to require the foster child to pass through another bedroom or a bathroom in order to enter his or her bedroom or to require another person to pass through the foster child's bedroom to enter another room if the foster home was recommended for initial certification after July 1, 2000.
(6) Have floor-to-ceiling walls and a standard door.
(7) Be provided with reasonable access to an emergency exit.
(8) Not be on a floor higher than the second floor or in a basement unless approved in writing by a fire safety inspector.
(9) Be comparable in appearance in terms of wall coverings, floor coverings, and general decor to other bedrooms used by other children residing in the foster home.
(10) Approved by the agency prior to placement.
(C) A foster child shall not share a bedroom with a child of the opposite sex, except when all children sharing the room are under the age of five years, or when a foster child who is also a parent is sharing a bedroom with his or her own child.
(D) A foster child over one year of age shall not share a sleeping room with an adult without prior approval of the recommending agency.
(E) Each foster child shall be provided with a clean, comfortable, permanent bed and mattress of his or her own. A permanent bed is one that cannot be converted to any other form.
(F) A bunk bed in use shall be equipped with safety rails on the upper tier for a child under the age of ten or for any child whose physical, mental, or emotional condition indicates the need for such protection. A bed shall not be bunked higher than two tiers. A child under six years of age shall not sleep on the upper bunk of a bunk bed.
(G) A foster caregiver shall provide each foster child with clean bed linen at least once per week or more frequently if needed. A foster child shall not be required to sleep on a bed soiled by urine or excrement.
(H) Unless there is a documented reason for a foster child over two years of age or thirty-five inches in height to continue to sleep in a crib, the child shall be provided with a toddler bed or standard bed.
Last updated April 15, 2024 at 2:03 PM
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