Passing a Dhs Home Inspection for Cleanliness Babies

If you're dealing with CPS, you've probably wondered, "What does CPS look for in a home visit?" I have been visited by CPS a few times, and it's always stressful… merely I've done some research and figured out what CPS is actually looking for when they visit your home.

Before we begin, I need to remind you lot that I am non a lawyer or social worker. I am a journalist with extensive CPS experience. I have written and reported on this topic several times in the past. If you need advice most your specific situation, I've aggregated a listing of free legal assistance aid here.

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Low Income Relief is staffed by researchers, not lawyers. If you lot demand legal communication, our friends at JustAnswer may exist able to help! Contact them today.

Wait – practise y'all know your rights?!

When CPS comes knocking, you take rights. Brand certain you know what they are, considering this is definitely one of those things that you need to know earlier CPS shows up at your firm.

For example, if the caseworker does not have a warrant, yous do non have to let them in. You lot can turn down entry. Y'all tin find more information about this in our other articles, "What CPS Tin can and Cannot Do" and "What are my rights with Kid Protective Services?"

What does CPS await for in a home visit?

To notice an reply to this question, we turned to federal and state publications. There are many theories surrounding this topic, but we wanted to know actual, factual truth from the source.

So, co-ordinate to a variety of country and federal laws, regulations and handbooks, here is the answer to "what does CPS look for in a home visit?"

Retrieve, the overall goal is to determine whether or non a child is rubber at home. These things are just specific benchmarks that help them make that determination.

Cleanliness

Cleanliness was ever my chief concern when CPS was chosen on me. However, I was repeatedly assured past caseworkers that I had nothing to worry about. They are more concerned with ensuring sanitary weather than a sparkling clean living surroundings, so yous can breathe easy. Life with kids is messy, and CPS knows that.

Hopefully, like me, you'll be relieved to know that perfection is not the answer to "What does CPS look for in a home visit?"

Feces

CPS looks for human and animal feces in the abode. Unfortunately, they sometimes discover information technology.

Infestations

Insect and rodent infestations are generally considered an indicator of unsanitary living conditions. This isn't always the instance, of course, but it is something that CPS will look for in a home visit.

Rotten Nutrient

Rotten food is something that CPS caseworkers are trained to look for during a domicile visit.

Laundry

Piles of dingy laundry are not skillful. Laundry piles should be avoided birthday. If you must have piles of laundry, piles of make clean laundry are far preferable.

Smells

1 of the answers to "What does CPS look for in a home visit?" is actually what they smell. The olfactory property of your home tin tell someone a lot well-nigh how clean information technology is on a regular basis. Even if information technology looks clean, a lingering aroma can betray past negligence.

Tidiness

Tidiness is important. If a house is tidy, it will normally be clear of tripping or choking hazards. It will besides exist gratis of clutter that could pose a danger if a burn or other emergency were to happen.

Trash

At that place should not exist whatever trash in the firm. Trash is a major red flag for CPS caseworkers.

Utilities

CPS will look for running, make clean water considering this is considered a sanitary demand. They will check for flushing toilets and other functional utilities.

Safety Hazards

There are many types of safety hazards that CPS looks for in a home visit. This is probably the most of import answer to "What does CPS expect for in a domicile visit?"

Burn Hazards

Do you know the temperature of your hot water? CPS may check the temperature to ensure that your children are not in danger of scalds or burns.

Choking Hazards

Small objects left in the attain of very young children can nowadays a choking chance. CPS will take note of any risks that are nowadays in your home.

Drug Paraphernalia

Whatsoever drug paraphernalia is a blood-red flag. Second-manus smoke in the home is also something that CPS will pay attending to, specially if the children have asthma or other lung problems.

Ecology Danger

Sometimes, older and cheaper homes can be quite dangerous. Exposed wiring, broken appliances, shattered drinking glass and even dangerous neighborhoods tin pose extra risks to children. Broken outlet covers could too be a problem.

Be mindful of anything that could pose a trip take chances, autumn risk, electric hazard, or any sort of safe hazard. CPS volition accept note of all these things during a habitation visit.

The good news is that the bureau may be able to provide assistance fixing many of these problems. They may exist able to provide funding, negotiate with landlords or provide resources to help you remedy some of these problems.

Fire Hazards

Are any doors or windows permanently blocked or closed? If and so, that may pose a danger in case of a fire or other emergency. This is something that will e'er get a caseworker's attending.

They volition besides want to know if the smoke alarms work. Afterwards all, when it comes to "What does CPS look for in a habitation visit?", safety is the ultimate reply.

Guns & Weapons

If guns and other weapons are accessible to children, that'southward a major problem. Weapons should be stored in a locked chiffonier, out of reach and inaccessible to children. Firearms should not exist loaded and ammunition should be stored in a split up location.

Chemicals & Cleaning Products

Many household cleaners, medications and home improvement products can be poisonous. They need to be stored safely out of reach of children. It is recommended to continue medications (including over-the-counter medications) in a locking chiffonier.

Other safety hazards

Other general safety hazards will be searched for as well. These may include things like stairs without gates, lack of safety restraints in your vehicles, etc.

Bedrooms

Many families are surprised to learn that when information technology comes to "What does CPS look for in a home visit?" the respond is always "sleeping arrangements." Even if your complaint has nothing to exercise with a child'south sleeping arrangement, this upshot will nearly probable exist addressed by your caseworker.

Bed

Children nether the age of xviii months should sleep in a crib, free of blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, bumper pads and other materials.

Any bunk beds must have railings on both sides of the upper tier to forestall falls. Children who are sleeping in the peak bunk should be sometime enough and mature enough to do and then safely. More often than not, no kid under the age of half dozen years sometime should sleep in a tiptop bunk.

Co-Ed Roommates

CPS more often than not does non approve of boys and girls sharing a bedroom later on the age of five years onetime. If there is any way to avoid that, it should exist avoided.

Clothing

Does the child have adequate clothing? Is their article of clothing clean?

Personal Possessions

As they check the child'due south room, they'll see the kid'due south sleeping arrangements, bedding, toys, and other possessions. These are all considered indicators of whether or non a child is well cared for.

Windows

The child must take a prophylactic place to sleep. Generally, alternatives like closets and hallways are non considered safe bedrooms because each bedroom should accept a window that tin can open in instance of an emergency.

Kitchen

The kitchen plays an important role in every family's life. It shouldn't be a surprise that CPS takes a special involvement in this infinite.

Food

CPS will want to see that you have food in the house, and that the food is available to your children. The refrigerator should be clean and well-stocked. The pantry and/or cupboards should have food. There should not be a lock on the kitchen door, fridge or cupboards that would prevent the child from accessing nutrient if the child is hungry.

They will want to make sure that in that location is no rotting food in the kitchen.

Knives

They will too want to make sure that there are no unsecured knives or other dangerous objects inside achieve of the children.

Pets

If you're worried about "what does CPS look for in a home visit?" and you lot have pets, then you have a few extra things to consider.

Cleanliness

Litter boxes, shedding fur and other pet-related messes will be a cause for business organization with the caseworker. If your pet is indoors, make sure that the pet's messes are taken care of.

Fleas/Ticks

CPS will want to know if your pets are well cared for. If yous allow your pets to have an infestation untreated, it volition reflect poorly on your caregiving.

Outside

There are some dangers that can exist outside your home, too. If y'all are renting an apartment, these aren't necessarily things you need to worry nigh. If you're in a home, withal, nosotros need to add these things to the list of "What does CPS look for in a home visit?"

Road Rubber

If the dwelling is located near a busy road, the one thousand should exist adequately fenced to keep small-scale children safe from getting into the road.

Water Features

If a pool or h2o characteristic is nowadays, it should be fenced or gated so that younger children cannot fall in.

Don't make these 5 mistakes with CPS!

Accept too much month at the finish of your money? Me besides - and that'due south how Low Income Relief got started. I have over 20 years of professional research and writing feel. Over the years, I've worked as a novelist, journalist, ghostwriter and content creator. My work has been featured in various print and online publications, including USA Today, eHow.com, Livestrong.com, Legal Beagle, The Daily Herald (Provo, Utah), The Chronicle (Centralia, WA) and others. At Low Income Relief, I use my professional research and reporting experience to help low income families save money and brand ends meet. It'south been my total-time job since 2016, and it'southward truly an honor to serve you.

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