Foster Care Inspections Checklist for Ohio - Your Guide

Becoming a foster parent in Ohio involves a crucial step that might seem daunting to many: the foster care home inspection. 

• This procedure confirms that your home is a secure environment for a child in care.
• It goes beyond just ticking boxes for regulations — it's about creating a nurturing space where a child can feel safe and cherished. 

In this blog, we'll guide you through the essential parts of the inspection process, detailing what you’ll need to do and how to get your home ready for a child in care.

What is the Home Study Process Like in Ohio?

The home study process is a crucial step nationwide for anyone considering becoming a foster parent. It can look slightly different from state to state, but the foundational elements are usually the same.

Ultimately, it serves as an evaluation to determine if you can provide a secure and nurturing environment for a child in need. In Ohio, the process encompasses several essential aspects:

• Background checks - These checks are pivotal for ensuring the child's safety and well-being. In Ohio, they typically involve examining criminal records, checking against child abuse registries, and in some cases, evaluating financial stability to ensure you can provide for a child.
• Submitting documents - As part of the home study in Ohio, you'll need to present various significant documents for review. This step is vital for assessing your suitability as a foster parent. The required documents may include:
  • Marriage certificates (if applicable)
  • Financial statements and records
  • Medical information and records
  • Other relevant supporting documents
• Conducting interviews - In Ohio, the agency conducting your home study will carry out multiple in-person interviews with you. These are designed to get a comprehensive understanding of your readiness to foster. Typically, this will include at least two interviews.
• The home visit - A critical component of the home study process is the home visit. An evaluator will inspect your home in Ohio to ensure it meets safety standards for a child. Before this visit, you'll receive guidance on necessary safety precautions, such as installing working smoke detectors and securing potentially dangerous items.

Each of these steps is designed to ensure that foster parents in Ohio are well-prepared to offer a loving and safe environment for children in care.

Getting Your Living Space Ready

Getting your home ready for a child in care means making sure there are special places in the house where the child can feel happy and grow. Think about these important parts:

• Enough room - It's a good idea to set up areas for the child's activities. They should have their own bedroom to sleep and relax, a place to eat meals, and a spot to play and have fun.
• Safe and cozy - The house needs to be more than just big enough. It should be safe and feel welcoming. This means you must check for anything dangerous and make the house child-friendly. Also, make the home a place where the child feels comfortable and happy. This helps the child get used to their new home and feel better overall.

Ohio Foster Care Bedroom Requirements 

The bedroom is one of the most important spaces for a child in care — it’s where they can express themselves and have a safe place to grow and thrive! 

In Ohio, all bedrooms have to follow these guidelines:

• Bedrooms must have at least one window on an exterior wall, equipped with screens and the ability to open unless an alternative ventilation system is provided.
• Bedrooms must have no more than four children.
• Bedrooms must have storage for personal items and clothing.
• They must have a safe, comfortable sleeping area with privacy and adult supervision appropriate to the child's needs.
• They must avoid entry configurations that force passage through another bedroom or bathroom, which is applicable to homes recommended for certification post-July 1, 2000.
• They must have floor-to-ceiling walls and a standard door.
• They must provide easy access to an emergency exit.
• They cannot be located above the second floor or in the basement without fire safety approval.
• They must be visually similar to other bedrooms in the home.
• Children in care cannot share a bedroom with opposite-sex children except under specific conditions.
• Any child in care older than one year must not share a room with an adult without agency approval.
• A child in care must have their own clean, comfortable, non-convertible bed and mattress.
• Bunk beds must have safety rails for certain children, cannot exceed two tiers, and children under six cannot sleep on the top bunk.
• Clean bed linen must be provided weekly or as needed, and children must not sleep on soiled beds.
• Children in care over two years or 35 inches tall should not sleep in a crib unless documented otherwise and should be provided with a toddler or standard bed.
• Additional requirements may be necessary depending on the type of foster care.

Ohio General Home Safety Checklist

The other spaces in your home matter, too. Here’s what you need to know about home safety for children in care:

• Foster homes must be clean, safe, sanitary, and well-maintained, including houses, mobile homes, units, or apartments.
• Homes should have no peeling or chipping paint; potential lead hazards must be addressed to appropriate agencies.
• If the home has a swimming pool, it will require barriers, safety locks on access points, life-saving devices, and if not emptied daily, a working pump and filter system.
• Hot tubs and spas must have locked safety covers when not in use.
• Outdoor recreational equipment and potentially hazardous areas (e.g., water bodies, cliffs, roads) must be safe and child-proofed.
• The home must be adequately heated, lighted, ventilated and have a continuous supply of safe drinking water, with well water tested annually.
• Dangerous items (chemicals, tools, weapons, alcoholic beverages) must be stored safely away from children's access.
• Weapons on the premises must be stored in a way that makes them inoperable and locked away, separate from ammunition.
  • Exemptions for law enforcement officials apply under certain conditions.
• A working telephone and posted emergency numbers for quick access.
• Interior locks must allow unlocking from both sides without a key; locking children's bedrooms at night is prohibited.
• Bathroom and toilet facilities must be indoor and plumbed.
• Water heaters should not exceed 120°F to prevent burns.
• Regular garbage disposal in covered containers or closed bags is required.
• Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors must be installed on each level and near sleeping areas, with compliance to safety certifications.
• First aid supplies, a written evacuation plan with clear escape routes, and regular emergency drills are mandatory.
• All heating equipment must have safety measures, with specific restrictions on unvented oil or kerosene heaters and requirements for heater certifications.
• A portable fire extinguisher must be located near the cooking area, meeting safety standards. If you work with Mentor Foster Care, this is something we provide for free — along with a lockbox and a first aid kit.
• The home must be free from rodents and insect infestations.
• Pets or domestic animals must be safe and sanitary, with protection from animals that could harm the child.
• Stairways accessible to children must have safety gates or doors.
• A smoke-free environment is required in the home and any transport vehicle, prohibiting smoking in living areas or in the presence of children in care.
• Prescription drugs must be securely locked, with exceptions for emergency medications like inhalers.

Creating a Welcoming and Comfortable Space

Making your home tidy and cozy is important to help a child in care feel safe and happy with you. Here's how you can do that:

• Cut down on clutter - Begin by cleaning up places where everyone hangs out, including the room any child will stay in. Keep only the stuff you really need and make sure everything has its own spot. This makes your home safer and easier to get around in.
• Keep things organized - Use shelves, bins, and organizers to keep stuff in order. Putting labels on where things go can help both you and the child in care know where to find and put things back.
• Don’t overwhelm yourself - It's good to clean often, but don't stress too much about it. Keeping things clean and comfy is enough to make the place feel calm and welcoming. Having a cleaning schedule, like doing laundry every Thursday, can also help keep things on track.
• Make it their own - Give children some space to make their room feel like it's theirs. Maybe a shelf for their things or a spot on the wall for their art can help them feel more at home.
• Find the right balance - It's great to have a clean, organized house, but you also want it to feel warm and inviting. Try to find a happy medium where your home is neat but also feels like a place where people actually live.

Children in Care and Pet Safety

Bringing pets into a foster home takes some planning to keep everyone safe and happy. 

Here's what you can do:

• Set clear rules - It's important to teach both pets and children what's okay and what's not. Show the child the right way to be around pets, and make sure your dogs, cats, or other pets have a spot where they can chill out by themselves if they need to.
• Watch them together - Always keep an eye on children and pets when they're together, especially at first. This helps prevent potential problems and makes sure they're both okay with each other.
• Stay on top of health stuff - Make sure your pets are vaccinated and see the vet regularly. This keeps everyone in the house healthy and safe. In some counties, vaccines for rabies are mandatory.
• Have a backup plan - Sometimes, you might need to keep the pet and child apart, like if there are allergies or if they're not getting along. Have a plan for where to keep them separate if needed to preserve the peace.
• Teach the child about pets - If the child is old enough, teach them how to take care of the pets. This is good for safety and can help them become friends. Plus, it teaches healthy life skills and provides a sense of routine and inclusion in the home.
• Look out for signs of stress - Keep an eye on how the child and the pet are acting. If you notice they're stressed or not happy, it's time to step in and help them feel better.

Learn More About Foster Care in Our Upcoming Webinar

Looking for more information about fostering a child in Ohio? Our upcoming webinar can give you the answers. 

Attend a Foster Parent Information Session Webinar and learn more about the fostering process, different types of foster care, such as therapeutic foster care, and much more. Sign up for our webinar today, or get in touch with a Mentor Foster Care location near you:

• Akron Foster Care
• Canfield Foster Care
• Canton Foster Care
• Columbus Foster Care
• Elyria Foster Care
• Independence Foster Care
• Warren Foster Care
• Willoughby Hills Foster Care