behavior management practices      safety and emergency practices

When you adopt a child, you become responsible for the child's safety and well-being. That responsibility includes parenting in ways that are beneficial to the child and providing a safe and secure home.

This brochure describes the parenting practices that the ministry requires you to follow when parenting a child placed for adoption. It also lists recommended practices for ensuring that your child is safe and secure in and around your home.

Behavior Management Practices

When you accept the placement of a child in your home, you must agree not to use inappropriate punishments or behavior management practices. The practices that the ministry forbids include:

• Depriving a child of basic rights or needs, such as food, clothing, shelter or bedding.
• Using physical punishment, such as spanking, shaking, slapping or hitting a child.
• Subjecting a child to humiliation, ridicule or any other degrading actions.
• Restraining a child, unless it is necessary for the immediate physical safety of the child or another person.
• Secluding (not including time-out) or confining a child.
• Requiring a child to do exercise or work that may be excessive or harmful.
• Threatening a child with removal from the home in order to influence the child's behavior.
• Denying visits, telephone contact or correspondence with family members or guardians as outlined in the child's openness agreement or access order, or; where there is no openness agreement or access order, unless you have discussed this with the child's social worker.
• Applying consequences where it is unclear whether the child's behavior warrants them.
• Allowing the child to be disciplined by another child who has not been designated as a temporary caregiver.
• Using force to influence a child's religious or personal beliefs.

Recommended Safety and Emergency Practices

To ensure the child is safe and secure in your home, the ministry recommends the following practices:

Safety in the home  

• Prepare a household emergency response plan for fires, earthquakes, disasters and other emergencies, and ensure that:
• the child is aware of the plan
• the plan takes into consideration anyone in the home who requires assistance; and
• the plan is practiced at least every six months and immediately following the placement of a child in your home.
• Show and describe to the child any known hazards in the home and surroundings and make sure the child is supervised whenever he or she is in an area of the home containing hazards.
• Install at least one functioning smoke detector approved by Underwriter's Laboratories of Canada:
• on each floor of the home; and
• on or near the ceiling in the corridor of each sleeping area of the home.

At least once a month, check that the smoke detectors are working. Change their batteries at least once a year.

• Make sure any room used for sleeping has at least one opening window that can be used as an emergency exit.
• Keep at least one fire extinguisher readily accessible to the kitchen. Test fire extinguishers once a year to ensure they are fully charged and in working condition.
• Have at least one working telephone or other reliable means of regular communication with others outside of the home. Also:
• keep an easy-to-read list of emergency telephone numbers near the telephone, including fire, police, doctor, ambulance and poison control; and
• if there is no telephone, make sure there are readily accessible and clearly written instructions for getting help in am emergency.
• Make sure your home has adequate heat, light, and ventilation for safe and comfortable living.
• Ensure oil or gas furnaces, wood burning stoves, fireplaces and electrical heating systems are properly installed and maintained.

Health  

• Keep a well-maintained first-aid kit in a place that is easily accessible in an emergency.
• Keep poisonous substances and medications in a locked location and make sure they are clearly labeled.
• Keep all dangerous and hazardous materials, objects and equipment securely stored.
• Make sure any weapons in the home are kept where children cannot access them and are disassembled or otherwise made unusable.
• Store firearms in accordance with federal regulations, making sure that:
• the firearm is unloaded
• the firearm is rendered inoperable by removing the bolt or installing a trigger lock; and
• ammunition and firing mechanisms are stored separately from the firearm in securely locked containers or cabinets.

Pets   

• Keep dogs, cats and other pets in a safe and sanitary manner and as required by provincial and local regulations, and make sure that:
• pets have up-to-date rabies vaccinations; and
• children are protected from any animal that is potentially dangerous.

Recreation  

• Make sure the home's outdoor play or recreation areas are safe and comply with any legislation and local by-laws. Ensure that:
• play and recreational equipment are age appropriate, in good working condition and structurally sound
• any in-ground pools are enclosed with safety fences
• the water in swimming pools is regularly tested for contamination; and
• children are supervised at all times by a responsible adult while using swimming pools or trampolines.

Vehicles  

• Make sure all vehicles used to transport children:
• meet Motor Vehicle Act  requirements
• are maintained in a safe condition
• include age appropriate, certified child restraint systems
• have adequate insurance, including motor vehicle third-party legal liability insurance coverage of at least $1 million; and
• are operated in a safe manner by a person with a valid driver's license of the appropriate classification.
• Whenever you are transporting a child in a vehicle, ensure:
• the child is properly secured in a certified restraint system; and
• whenever possible, ensure children under 12 years of age are seated in the back seat.

If you have any questions about any of these responsibilities, please discuss them with your social worker.