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Child Foster Care Home Safety Checklist – Guidance 6 <br />smoke. Cannabis use is not specifically addressed in licensing rules or laws. The most up-to-date <br />information about cannabis can be found on the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management website. <br />8. There is a safe water supply in the home – city water is considered safe water. If the home uses <br />well water, it must be tested by a certified laboratory to ensure proper levels of coliform and nitrates. <br />The Minnesota Department of Health provides information on well testing, results, and options. Further <br />information is provided on Accredited Labs in Minnesota Accepting Drinking Water Samples from <br />Private Well Users. Agencies can approve the use of bottled water or a filtration system to be used as <br />an alternative for cooking and drinking. A variance is not required for the use of bottled water or a <br />filtration system, and annual well-testing is not required if the home continues to provide a safe water <br />supply. This must be addressed each time a home safety checklist is completed. <br />9. Water temperature does not exceed 120 degrees - check the temperature at the tap with a <br />thermometer or view the temperature setting on the water heater. If over 120 degrees, it must be <br />decreased. If the license holder or applicant does not have access to or control of the water heating <br />source, discuss anti-scalding devices that can be used on taps, or a possible plan to address individual <br />safety concerns. <br />10. Weapons and ammunition are stored separately in locked areas that are not accessible or <br />visible to foster children - Weapons must be unloaded, and cannot be visible, and workers must <br />observe how weapons and ammunition will be locked and stored separately. A gun or trigger lock on its <br />own is not enough. Other weapons or instruments designed for and capable of producing bodily harm, <br />such as bb guns, bows and arrows, hunting knives, and swords also cannot be visible or accessible and <br />must be locked. Bows and arrows do not have to be stored and locked separately, however, arrows <br />could still be considered a weapon, so still need to be in a locked area and not accessible or visible. <br />If an applicant discloses they have a legal permit to carry a weapon, there needs to be a discussion that <br />the requirements related to weapons pertain to the licensed home. No one, regardless of having a <br />permit to carry, may have a gun on their person in a licensed home or in an unlicensed relative home <br />with an emergency foster care placement. If an applicant or license holder plans to carry outside the <br />licensed home, the placing worker must be made aware to determine whether this creates safety <br />concerns related to the child in placement. If an applicant wishes to request a variance they may do so <br />in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.04, subdivision 9. If an agency considers granting a <br />variance to this home safety requirement the agency must be able to articulate how granting a variance <br />does not affect the health or safety of persons receiving services, and that the applicant or license <br />holder has a clear and achievable plan for preventing children’s access to the weapon.  A variance to this <br />item on the home safety checklist is not generally recommended. <br />If there are no weapons in the home, indicate this on the checklist. If this changes, the applicant or <br />license holder must immediately contact the licensing agency and demonstrate how these items will be <br />locked and stored as required. <br />Page 195 of 379