Kansas Administrative Regulations › Agency 30 - KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES › Article 47 - FOSTER CARE LICENSING › Section 30-47-820 - General environmental requirements

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 28, July 11, 2024
Each licensee shall ensure that all of the requirements in this
				regulation are met.
(a) Local
			 requirements. Each family foster home shall meet the legal requirements of the
			 community as to zoning, fire protection, water supply, sewage disposal, and
			 trash and recycling disposal.
(b)
			 Use of private water supply. If a private water system is used, the system
			 shall meet the requirements in
			 K.A.R.
			 28-4-50. The water supply shall be safe for
			 human consumption. Testing of the water supply shall be completed at the time
			 of initial licensing and annually thereafter to document the nitrate and
			 bacteria levels. Additional testing may be required if there is a change in
			 environmental conditions that could affect the integrity of the water supply.
			 Commercially bottled drinking water shall be used for children in foster care
			 until a laboratory test confirms that the water is safe for human
			 consumption.
(c) Structural and
			 furnishing requirements. Each family foster home shall be constructed,
			 arranged, and maintained to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all
			 occupants and shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The home shall contain sufficient
			 furnishings and equipment to accommodate all residents of the home and each
			 child in foster care. The home shall include an operating kitchen with a sink,
			 refrigerator, stove, and oven and at least one operable bathroom with one sink,
			 one flush toilet, and one tub or shower.
(2) Each interior and exterior stairway with
			 three or more stairs and a landing shall have a handrail.
(3) Each interior and exterior stairway and
			 landing shall be guarded on each side if there is a drop-of of more than 30
			 inches from the stairs or landing to the floor or ground.
(4) If any interior or exterior stairway is
			 guarded by balusters and the family foster home is or is intended to be
			 licensed for children in foster care less than six years of age, the space
			 between balusters shall not exceed four inches.
(5) When a child in foster care less than two
			 years of age is present, each stairway with two or more stairs and a landing
			 shall be gated to prevent unsupervised access by the child. Gates used at the
			 top of stairways shall be securely attached. Accordion gates shall be
			 prohibited throughout the premises.
(6) If the family foster home is or intends
			 to become licensed for children in foster care less than six years of age, each
			 electrical outlet shall be covered or tamper-resistant.
(7) Water temperature shall be maintained to
			 ensure the health and safety of children in foster care.
(8) Each bathroom shall have a door that
			 affords privacy to the occupant and can be opened from each side without the
			 use of a key in case of an emergency.
(9) A working telephone shall be on the
			 premises and available for use at all times.
(10) Emergency telephone numbers shall be
			 posted in plain view for the police, fire department, ambulance, hospital, and
			 poison control center.
(11) A
			 working smoke detector shall be centrally installed on each level of the home
			 and in each room used for sleeping by a child in foster care and by the
			 licensee.
(12) One working carbon
			 monoxide detector shall be installed according to the manufacturer's
			 instructions on each level of the home and adjacent to sleeping
			 areas.
(13) One operable fire
			 extinguisher shall be readily available.
(14) First aid supplies shall be readily
			 accessible.