I know some of you are curious about what they check for, so I will paste in a copy of the State of Virginia Home Environment Checklist. It amazes me what they look at. Most of all it makes practical sense. Some of it is a bit different. I often think they make it harder for non-biological parents to become parents. If every expectant parent in the world went through all the hoops adoptive families go through, there would be a whole lot less children in foster care, in hospitals from poisoning, etc. Still, I look at this a just the "normal" for us to bring home another baby. A different normal. A new normal. But normal nevertheless. Thank you for your continued prayers as week seek to bring home baby #2 and balance raising baby#1 in the midst of it all! =)
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HOME ENVIRONMENT CHECKLIST
FAMILY:______________________________________
Style
of Home: __________ Square
Footage: _______
#
Bedrooms: ____________ #
Bathrooms: ________
Fenced-in
Backyard:_________ Pool:
_____________
Length
of Time in Home: _____ Lot Size: __________
Type
of Pets: _______________________________________
During a home visit on
_________________, the following standards were investigated as evidenced by my
initials:
|
Standard
|
Found
|
Not Found
|
N/A
|
|
Storage
space to keep clothing and other personal belongings
|
|
|
|
|
Accessible
basin and toilet facilities
|
|
|
|
|
Sleeping
space on the first floor of the home for a child unable to use stairs
unassisted, other than a child who can be easily and safely carried
|
|
|
|
|
Space
for recreational activities
|
|
|
|
|
Fans
or other cooling systems shall be used when the temperature of inside areas
occupied by children in care exceeds 80° F
|
|
|
|
|
The
temperature in all areas occupied by children in care shall be maintained no
lower then 65° F
|
|
|
|
|
Rooms
and study space used by children in care shall have adequate and sufficient
lighting for activities and safety
|
|
|
|
|
The
provider and children in care shall have access to a working telephone in the
home
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple
children in care who share a bedroom shall have adequate space including
closet and storage space. Bedrooms shall have adequate square footage for
each child in care to have personal space
|
|
|
|
|
The
bedrooms of children in care shall not be used as passageways and shall have
doors for privacy
|
|
|
|
|
The
home shall be clean, in good repair, and free of hazards to the health and
safety of children in care
|
|
|
|
|
The
grounds around the home shall be safe, properly maintained, free of litter
and debris, and present no hazard to the safety of children in care
|
|
|
|
|
All
homes shall have at least one operable smoke detector (BCS requires one on
each floor)
|
|
|
|
|
There
must be a fire extinguisher in the home
|
|
|
|
|
Any
firearms and other weapons shall be unloaded and stored with the weapon’s
safety mechanisms activated in a locked closet or cabinet
|
|
|
|
|
Ammunition
shall be stored in a locked location separate from the weapon
|
|
|
|
|
The
key or combination to the locked closet and cabinet (where firearms and
ammunition are stored) shall at al times be maintained out of reach of all
children in the home
|
|
|
|
|
The
applicant shall maintain documentation that household pets receive tests,
inoculations, and licenses as required by law
|
|
|
|
|
The
applicant shall ensure that household pets are safe to be around children and
that the pets present no health hazard to children in the home
|
|
|
|
|
The
applicant shall keep cleaning supplies and other toxic substances stored away
from food and, as appropriate, out of reach of children and locked
|
|
|
|
|
Except
for medications that require refrigeration, all medications, prescription and
nonprescription, shall be stored separately from food in a locked area out of
reach of children. The applicant shall implement safety provisions for the
storage of refrigerated medications
|
|
|
|
|
The
home shall have readily available basic first aid supplies for use in
injuries and accidents
|
|
|
|
__________________________________________________________
Social
Worker Signature Date
During a home visit on
_________________, the following standards were discussed and family agrees to
comply as evidenced by the family’s initials:
|
Item
|
App 1
|
App 2
|
CW
|
|
The
home shall provide appropriate space and furnishing for each child receiving
care in the home
|
|
|
|
|
Bed
furniture equipped with clean, safe, and comfortable sleeping furnishings
|
|
|
|
|
Children
in care over the age of two years shall not share a bed
|
|
|
|
|
Children
in care over the age of two shall not share a bedroom with an adult unless
the child’s needs, disabilities, or other specified conditions warrant the
sharing of bedroom space and the licensee has approved a specified plan to
allow the sharing of the bedroom with the adult
|
|
|
|
|
No
child shall share a bed with an adult
|
|
|
|
|
A
child in care over the age of three years shall not sleep in the same bedroom
with children of the opposite gender
|
|
|
|
|
Children
in care under the age of seven or children in care with significant and
document cognitive disabilities shall not use the top bunk of bunk beds
|
|
|
|
|
Approved
providers and independent living arrangement settings shall arrange for
responsible adults to be available to serve in the caretaker’s role in case
of emergencies. Any substitute caretaker arrangements necessary for planned
or long-term absence of the provider shall require the licensee’s prior
approval
|
|
|
|
|
Possession
of any weapons, including firearms, kin the home or independent living
arrangement shall comply with federal and state laws and local ordinances
|
|
|
|
______________________________________________________________
Applicant
One Signature Date
______________________________________________________________
Applicant
Two Signature Date
______________________________________________________________
Social
Worker Signature Date
