New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 18 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES › Chapter II - Regulations of the Department of Social Services › Subchapter C - Social Services › Article 3 - Child-care Agencies › Part 443 - Certification, Approval and Supervision of Foster Family Boarding Homes › Section 443.3 - Certification or approval of foster family homes

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a)
Certification and approval.
Foster family boarding homes must meet the following
			   health and safety standards and physical plant requirements:
(1) The physical facilities of the foster
			 home or relative foster home must be in good condition and present no hazard to
			 the health and safety of children.
(2) The foster home must be in substantial
			 compliance with all applicable provisions of State and local laws, ordinances,
			 rules and regulations concerning health and safety.
(3) The physical space, construction and
			 maintenance of the foster home and premises must be in good repair and kept in
			 a sufficiently clean and sanitary condition so that the physical well-being as
			 well as a reasonable degree of physical comfort is assured the members of the
			 foster family.
(4) Sleeping
			 arrangements should be age and developmentally appropriate for all the children
			 placed in the home. Further, sleeping arrangements, including those that
			 involve room sharing with any other child or adult, must be consistent with the
			 health, safety, welfare and in the best interests of the children placed in the
			 home.
(5) Not more than three
			 persons may occupy any bedroom where children at board sleep, unless the
			 children are siblings or half siblings and the occupancy is consistent with the
			 health, safety, and welfare of each of the siblings or half-siblings and is
			 necessary to keep the siblings or half siblings placed together in the same
			 foster home.
(6) No bed may be
			 located in any unfinished attic or basement.
(7) Children must not sleep together in the
			 same bed as an adult.
(8) Each
			 child must have sleeping space of sufficient size for the safety, comfort, and
			 privacy of the child. Each child must have a separate bed or crib of sufficient
			 size and cleanliness for the comfort and well being of the child, with
			 waterproof covering, if needed, and suitable bedding adequate to the season.
			 Bunk beds may be used.
(9) There
			 must be an adequate and safe supply of water for drinking and household use.
			 Water from wells, springs or other private sources must be protected against
			 contamination. There must be provision for hot water for washing and
			 bathing.
(10) The dwelling must
			 have window barriers, including window screens, guards and/or stoppers above
			 the first floor of the foster home.
(11) Heating apparatus must be safe and
			 adequate to provide for the reasonable comfort of children in the
			 home.
(12) Adequate bathing, toilet
			 and lavatory facilities must be provided and kept in sanitary
			 condition.
(13) The home must be
			 free from fire hazards and equipped with at least one smoke detector.
(14) No certified or approved foster parent
			 may rent rooms to lodgers or boarders or receive and care for maternity cases,
			 except as part of the foster care program, or receive or care for convalescent
			 cases or conduct any business on the premises which might adversely affect the
			 welfare of children, unless permitted by the authorized agency which certified
			 or approved the home.
(15) All
			 firearms, rifles and shotguns, as defined in section 265.00  of the Penal Law, must be
			 securely stored and must be maintained in compliance with applicable State and
			 local standards regarding the licensing, storage and maintenance of such
			 weapons.