[dac_cincy]

I am just checking to see what the experience is like in other places.

I was in one of my final classes last night and the assessor mentioned that once the homestudy process starts we are not allowed to change the arrangment of furniture in our houses.
I asked if she meant only the bedrooms, but she said furtinure anywhere in the house can not be changed. I like changing my furtinure around.

Now from previous experience, it will be 6 months from the last homestudy visit (3 of them) before the homestudy is signed and I get my license. So we will go through summer - when I want my couch in front of the windows to get the breezes, into winter, when I want the couch away from the window so I can put my Christmas tree up and to be out of the drafts.

I think it is unreasonable to expect families to keep all furniture in one place for 6 months just becuase the county is going to take 6 months to sign off on the completed homestudy.

I am also frustrated becuase my son is going to ttransition out of his crib this summer and I had planned on taking the crib down and moving him into anther room, but since I want to be licensed for newborns on up, I have to the crib set up at all times, the twin bed up and the double bed up so that there is always a bed ready. it could be ages before I need those. it just seems like the county and state have put these in place without thinking about it impacts families.

What is the process in your areas?

[tylind23]

Wow, that's crazy. I was never told not to move furniture around by my agency. In fact, my agency says you don't even have to have the bed or crib totally set up and ready, you just have to have a place for hte child to sleep and be able to get their bed/crib set up within 48 hours of placement. My current foster son can't seem to decide which bedroom he likes better, so he's switched his furniture from room to room 3 times now.

[One_Happy_Momma]

I've never heard of that, and I have been doing foster care for over 10 years.

[CaddoRose]

That's the craziest thing I ever heard. Is that just an agency thing or is it just the CW?

[dac_cincy]

They say it is part of new laws passed after a child died in care. I understand that more strigent oversight was put in place becuase of it, but this is a bit much.
I have new windows and some new furtinure coming in May/June- right when I will be in the homestudy process. I am not sure if I should stop right now and put things on hold again or pray that I get an experienced worker who understands the reality fo daily life and life with a toddleer that is transitioning to a big boy bed.

Love to you,
Deb

[FullQuiverMamma]

I am licensed for newborns... They told us to keep the cribs in the garage because it is too heartbreaking to look at an empty crib for months. We have no furniture restrictions as of yet!

[onhazier]

We're awaiting our license and have not been told to keep our furniture in one place. Could this be a state law? Can she site the law or can you search online for it?

How does moving the furniture become a life risk to a child?

[TxMom65]

I've never heard of this.

[Howdy]

Wow, I never heard of that, but I am not up to date with any new regulations (I let my license expire, but hope to get one in another state after we move).

It sounds like such a strange rule. But, my apt is very small and I had to really shuffle furniture around to make the required-sized open/empty play area, so I can see that there would be some sense in the rule for very small homes when rearranging the furniture could wipe out the play area.

[ALfostermom]

i'm in AL and have never heard of that either, our dept doesn't even require you have a bed to take aplacement. we have had many families ask the foster care association to buy beds for kids they have just been called about.

[shycar]

Oh my goodness. They would have a heart attack if they see my house now. We putting hardwood throughout the house. One room at a time. So furnitures are being moved everywhere right now. Here moving furniture is not big deal. Actually doing foster care you tend to have to move things around. I have had toddlers that do fine with the coffee table and some that a coffee table is dangerouse and I need to remove it. Or I have had cases where I put the toddlers in a room and then realize the toddlers need seperate rooms, one might cry a lot and tend to wake up the other, and I need to move cribs here and there. As a foster parent you need to be flexable, I can not imagine not moving things around at all.

[momofbgtwins]

This is also my first time hearing of this. I know from experience that every place is different and has different rules. I would ask to see where it is stated in the regulations.

[Ariah_Zada]

I find this so strange. I had my first homestudy last week (we only have 2). I am being licensed for birth to 4 and I don't have a crib yet. I do have a pack n play and was told I could use that for the first few days after receiving a placement, in order to get a crib and get it together. I move stuff a lot too!

Ariah

[dac_cincy]

I will keep you guys posted. I have spent all weekend thinking about this and it could be a deal breaker for me. I have a small house, I do rearrange my furniture from season to season especially at Christmas. I also think keeping up empty beds is not a good use of space and function- especially with a todller who is discovering the joys of climbing. I am not going to comprimise his safety and our quality of life- I know that sounds harsh- but he right now my only child and my responsibility. Anything that comprimises him is something I can walk away from at this point.
I have to see what the actual assessor says when s/he comes out for the homestudy and I will probably cotnact my state rep for clarification on the law- I do think it is overboard.

For the record, I am in OH.

Love to you,

[wohiomom]

I'm in Ohio too. Just licensed in February. They never said a thing about furniture moving. We're licensed by our county. I'd say it's a county/agency thing. I know our county has different rules from the county one over.

Becky