With the health inspections your agency should give you an idea what they will be looking for. This is an area that I was personally stressed about. My house is clean, but lived in with children, and pets. I am not a neat and a cleaning freak. If something comes up like my children want to play outside on a beautiful day, I will for go my chores for later. In my mind will my children remember that the living room was always spotless, or that I spent time with them. Believe me the living room floors has always waited for me and my children’s childhood is flying by:)

Your house does not have to be perfect or spotless. It needs to be clean and tidy.

Safety plugs on the electric outlets and safety latches on the cabinets with any cleaners.

No use of extension cords but you can use the power strips.

You can not store food and cleaners together.

Pets must have current vaccinations.

All medicines stored in something that will lock (lock box, a closet or a cabinet with a lock).
Guns have to be locked up (trigger lock and in a locked place).

Swimming pools need to have a fence that can be locked, or in some areas you may use an alarm on your pool, or on doors from your house. Check your state on this one.

Hot tubs have to be secured ( lid placed on the tub that can be locked or latched).

Trampolines in some states are not to be used by foster children. You can have them for your children, but foster children may not be able to use them. Check your state on this one.

They do a ten minutes or so, walk through with you. They will look in your food cabinet, pantry, refrigerator. They will want to see where you keep your cleaners, and medicines. They will look in all the closets ( I was told to see if someone was living with you, or they are being used for punishment, etc.). They will want to see the room you will be using for foster care. They will go to every room in your house including laundry room and garage. This is really the easiest part on the process.

If any one has an experience from their home study or if something is different from your state please, share and leave a comment below.

"The comfort of knowing that our bond will survive despite our differences and that our connection provides each of us with a more accurate picture of ourselves enhances our chances of finding inner peace and satisfction as we age together"
Jane Mersky Leder