Laserfiche WebLink
Child Foster Care Home Safety Checklist – Guidance 7 <br />Sleeping Space for Foster Children & Reduction of Risk of Sudden <br />Unexpected Infant Death <br />1. Sleeping space for children has two exits – If the sleeping space for foster children is in an area not <br />normally used for sleeping, the applicant or license holder can request a variance to allow for this. An <br />example of when this may be requested and approved is if the child will be sleeping in a living room due <br />to the windows in the bedroom being too small to be considered as a second exit from the room. If a <br />sleeping space in an apartment or mixed occupancy building does not have two exits, consult with the <br />state or local fire marshal to determine if the building meets code. For example, if bedrooms in an <br />apartment are internal and without windows, therefore only have one way to exit, it may still meet code <br />if a sprinkler system has been installed. In this case, the licensing agency may grant a variance to the <br />requirement of having two exits. <br />An infant is a child from birth through 12 months of age. If there is no plan to care for infants, <br />indicate this, and the checklist is completed. If foster care will be provided to infants, the <br />following items must be addressed on the home safety checklist: <br />2. A safe crib is available and used for each infant in care - ensure that there is a safe crib in the <br />home PRIOR to an infant being placed. If the crib is not set up during the initial licensing inspection, it <br />must be set up and inspected prior to placement. Pack and plays are acceptable, bassinets are not. It is <br />strongly recommended to check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Website for recalled or <br />unsafe cribs. <br />3. Infants younger than one year must be placed on their back to sleep, in a crib, directly on a <br />firm mattress - An infant who independently rolls onto its stomach after being placed to sleep on its <br />back may be allowed to remain sleeping on its stomach if the infant is at least six months of age. <br />Approval to allow an infant less than six months to remain sleeping on its stomach requires consent by a <br />parent or guardian thus requires consultation with the placing county’s attorney on who has legal <br />custody to give authority. If an infant falls asleep while being held or before being placed in a crib, the <br />license holder must move the infant to the crib as soon as practicable. Placing a swaddled infant down <br />to sleep is prohibited for any infant that has begun to roll over independently. Before any use of <br />swaddling for sleep, the license holder must obtain informed written consent from the parent or <br />guardian. <br />4. If an infant is not placed on their back to sleep, there must be documentation from the <br />infant’s physician - The documentation must be on the commissioner-approved form Directive for <br />Alternative Infant Sleep Position. <br />5. The crib’s firm mattress has a fitted sheet that fits tightly and cannot be dislodged easily. <br />Page 196 of 379