Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-114.5
Current through Regsiter Vol. 46, No. 26, June 12, 2024
(1)General. Facilities shall take sufficient measures to ensure the safety of the children in care in all of their programs.(2)Premises.a. Stairways, halls and aisles shall be of substantial nonslippery material, shall be maintained in a good state of repair, shall be adequately lighted and shall be kept free from obstructions at all times. All stairways shall have handrails.b. Radiators, registers, and steam and hot water pipes shall have protective covering or insulation. Electrical outlets and switches shall have wall plates.c. Fuse boxes and circuit breakers shall be inaccessible to children.d. Facilities shall have written procedures for the handling and storage of hazardous materials.e. Firearms and ammunition shall be kept under lock and key and inaccessible to children. When firearms are used, the facility shall have written policies regarding their purpose, use, and storage.f. All swimming pools shall conform to state and local health and safety regulations. Adult supervision shall be provided at all times when children are using the pool.g. The facility shall have policies regarding fishing ponds, lakes, or any bodies of water located on or near the facility grounds and accessible to the children.(3)Emergency evacuation and safety procedures. Upon admission all children shall receive instruction regarding evacuation and safety procedures. All living units utilized by children shall have a posted plan for evacuation and safety procedures regarding severe weather events, fire or other natural or man-made disasters. Practice fire drills shall be held monthly, and severe weather drills shall be held twice annually.(4)Fire inspection. Each facility shall procure an annual fire inspection approved by the state fire marshal and shall meet the recommendations thereof.(5)Local codes. Each facility shall meet local building, zoning, sanitation and fire safety ordinances. Where no local standards exist, state standards shall be met.(6)Safety, protection, and well-being of children in care. Facilities shall develop and follow written policies and procedures that assure the safety, protection, and well-being of children in care. Policies shall address, but not be limited to, the following:a. Supportive leadership of the facility that promotes protecting each child from abuse or bullying from other children and staff.b. Defining the facility's culture to reduce the use of unnecessary restraint.c. Clear definitions of unsafe behavior and the emergency situations when it is appropriate to use physical interventions.d. Staff training and development that give staff confidence they are supported by leadership with proper supervision and ongoing access to information about best practices and evidence-based approaches to care.e. Adequate supervision of children while the children are using any hazardous or dangerous objects or equipment and when children are using the Internet or other social media.f. The social, cultural, and developmental needs of children in care.g. Providing personal care items to children in care. Personal care items must be provided to the children in care and must reflect the individual, cultural, racial and ethnic needs of the youth living in the facility's programs.Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-114.5
Amended by IAB October 12, 2016/Volume XXXIX, Number 08, effective 12/1/2016Amended by IAB December 4, 2019/Volume XLII, Number 12, effective 1/8/2020Amended by IAB April 5, 2023/Volume XLV, Number 20, effective 6/1/2023