Purpose. Refuge House ensures the safety of foster/adoptive children, caregivers, residents, and visitors by controlling the location, security, and accessibility of weapons, firearms, explosive materials, and projectiles in every verified home. Weapon and firearm security is reviewed (1) prior to home verification and (2) on a quarterly basis, and is documented on the home screening and the quarterly review respectively.
Storage and documentation. All firearms are documented and secured in accordance with Texas and Federal law and any applicable DFPS or SSCC requirements. Firearms are kept in locked storage; ammunition is stored separately and locked; and any required licenses and training certificates are kept on file (TAC §749.2961, §749.2963).
Notification. Caregivers must notify Refuge House of any change in, or addition to, the weapons, firearms, explosive materials, projectiles, or toys that explode or shoot on the property where the foster home is located — no later than 24 hours before adding an item and within 15 days after removing an item. Transport of weapons and firearms must follow Refuge House transport rules (TAC §749.2965(b), §749.2967).
Child access and use. A child may not have unsupervised access to weapons, firearms, explosive materials, or projectiles; caregivers must keep these in locked storage when not in use. A child may use a weapon, firearm, explosive material, or projectile only when the use is approved in writing in the child's individual service plan and the child's treatment team has determined the use is in the child's best interest (for example, hunting); written approval must be given by the child's TMC or PMC prior to use. Any such use must be directly supervised by an adult who is knowledgeable about the specific weapon, firearm, explosive material, or projectile being used (TAC §749.2915, §749.339(18)).
Dangerous toys. Foster children must be supervised when using or around a toy that explodes or shoots, and the toy must be age-appropriate to the child. This does not pertain to Nerf guns, water guns, or other toys that are appropriate for children and do not present a safety risk.
Consolidated from the home safety inspection requirements in §3 of this procedure and the legacy RH Weapons and Firearms Policy (eff. 01/01/2022), aligned to 26 TAC §§749.2961, 749.2963, 749.2965(b), 749.2967, 749.2915, and 749.339(18).
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