Becoming a foster or adoptive parent is one of the most rewarding things in life. You are opening not only your home but your heart to help a child in need. One of the final steps in becoming licensed to foster or adopt is a Life Safety Inspection conducted by the agency and the state to ensure that your home is meeting all safety standards. This can be one of the most intimidating parts for foster and adoptive families, but there is no need to stress. Your licensing specialist will prepare you for the inspection and complete a pre-inspection of your home. We asked our current foster and adoptive families to share some helpful tips and tricks:
- Have all windows open at time of inspection, the inspector will close them when checking
- On the kitchen table have a first-aid kit and ace wraps out for accessibility and easy viewing
- Always keep 2 first-aid kits on hand: one that you use for all the bumps and bruises and one that you never touch so it always stays compliant
- For gun safety, have the safe keys and ammo safe keys available and ready for easy viewing. (Ammo and guns need to be stored separately as well as trigger locks on all weapons)
- Have a refrigerator locked container for medication (even if you do not currently have refrigerated medication)
- Open cabinets for accessibility (If feels less like someone is invading your personal space if your house is ready for viewing)
- Don't worry about kids and mess, inspectors are looking for safety concerns. Breathe, smile and know that the inspectors want you to pass, they will help you fix minor things if needed while educating you. (Make sure to ask questions and be involved)
- Most families do not realize how quickly the inspectors are in and out. Though it may seem like a tedious job, the inspections only last about 10-15 minutes on average.
Every child deserves a champion, learn more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent during our Agency Meet and Greet.
