Illinois Administrative Code › Title 89 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Part 402 - LICENSING STANDARDS FOR FOSTER FAMILY HOMES › Section 402.9 - Requirements for Sleeping Arrangements

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a) Each foster child shall be provided his
				own separate bed or crib. Children who have been sharing a bed in compliance
				with previous versions of this subsection shall be provided his or her own
				separate bed or crib, by the foster parent, by October 1, 2002.
b) Foster parents shall not co-sleep with a
				youth in care and shall follow the recommendations of the American Academy of
				Pediatrics (AAP) regarding safe sleep
				(https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacyandpolicy/aap-health-initiatives/healthy-child-care/Pages/Safe-Sleep.aspx).
				This requirement is non-waivable.
c) Children under six years of age may share
				a bedroom with related children of the opposite sex who are also under age six
				if each child is provided with a separate bed or crib.
d) Unrelated children under two years of age
				may share a bedroom with children of the opposite sex who are also under the
				age of two if each child is provided a separate bed or crib.
e) A foster child may share a bedroom with
				his or her own children of either sex if each child is provided a separate bed
				or crib.
f) A foster child shall
				not share the bedroom with an adult except under emergency conditions for a
				brief period of time, when a child is ill, needs frequent attention or as
				allowed in Section 402.9(g). The supervising agency can require that a foster
				parent occupy sleeping quarters on the same level of the home as a child who
				has medical or behavioral issues that warrant close supervision. This
				requirement shall be written into the child's Service Plan on forms developed
				and prescribed by the Department.
g) When adulthood (age 18) is reached by a
				foster, biological or adopted child for whom sharing the bedroom with a foster
				child under eighteen years of age has been determined to be in the best
				interests of the foster child, the supervising agency shall approve such
				arrangements in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
h) The supervising agency may approve the use
				of a multi-purpose room for use as a bedroom in order to enable children of
				common parentage to be placed together or when it enables a placement that is
				otherwise in the best interests of the children. Such approvals shall be in
				writing and shall contain the names and birth dates of the children for whom
				the approval was issued. These approvals shall be reviewed and reapproved at
				each license renewal.
i) There
				shall be a minimum of 40 square feet, excluding the closet and wardrobe area,
				for the first child occupying a bedroom and a minimum of 35 square feet for
				each additional child sharing the room. However, the supervising agency may
				approve a smaller room size on an individual case basis when such approval is
				in the best interests of the children. Such approvals shall be in writing and
				shall contain the names and birth dates of the children for whom the approval
				was issued. These approvals shall be reviewed at each license
				renewal.
j) The springs and
				mattresses on each bed requiring such shall be level, clean, unsoiled with no
				rips or tears in the mattress or mattress cover, and not infested with insects.
				The bedding shall be suitable for the season. This requirement is
				non-waivable.
k) Linens shall be
				changed at least weekly for all children and as frequently as needed for
				children not toilet trained and for those who are enuretic.
l) Waterproof mattress covers shall be
				provided for all beds or cribs for enuretic children.
m) Sleeping rooms shall be comfortable and
				shall be furnished suitably for the age and sex of the child.