The application is finally completed; your references are getting their reference letters, so now what? Now you will begin going through the entire checklist.
You will need to have a safety & fire inspection. If you call your local fire department they will usually come to your home and do the Fire Inspection at no cost to you. When they come out they will need to see and test working smoke detectors in each bedroom, the hall between bedrooms, the kitchen and living room. If your home has burglar bars you will not pass the inspection. You need to have them removed they are a big safety issue and you will not be issued your foster license (which you need to have in order to adopt through CPS).
You may be wondering why the burglar bars are not allowed. The simple answer to this is that if there is a fire they are hard to open from the inside, through smoke and if you are a child. If the fire department tries to get into your house they need special equipment to get to your family. In a fire minutes matter and the bars add minutes that could end up costing you or your family their lives.
You will also need to have fire extinguishers (at least 2) one in the kitchen, the other with your clothes dryer. They will need to be current and filled.
The fire department will offer guidance on fire escape routes and other information that you will need to get your house to the safety requirements. Your Social Worker will also be doing an additional safety inspection. This inspection will look at if you have a pool or spa, does your pool have a locked fence, are the bars close enough that a child could not squeeze through. If you have a spa they will need to see a cover and a lock on it.
When they come into the home all your cleaning materials will need to be in a locked cabinet, your medications (even Tylenol) need to be in a lock box or in a locked cabinet. The electrical outlets in your home will need child proof plug covers on them as well. There is so many things in your home that they look at you will want to get a list from your agency so you can be prepared.