February 25, 2008

Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Standard

This article provides direction and guidance regarding the placement, and supervision of children placed across state lines for foster care or adoption through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). It establishes procedures to ensure that children placed across state lines for foster care or adoption are placed with persons who are safe, suitable, and able to provide proper care. It also establishes legal and financial responsibility for supervision and the provision of services for the child. In order to protect all parties involved in an interstate placement, the ICPC provides the agency with an evaluation of the proposed placement, ensures that the placement is not "contrary to the interests of the child", guarantees the child legal and financial protection, ensures that the agency does not lose jurisdiction once the child moves, provides the agency with reports on the child's progress, and allows interstate placements to be considered in reasonable efforts to place a child in a timely manner.

The ICPC process entails a complete home study conducted by the state. All foster, relative, parent and adoptive home studies shall include the proposed placement family's background checks, employment and financial history, and social and medical histories styles. Once the placement is determined to be "not contrary to the welfare of the child" and the child is placed, the state is responsible for ongoing supervision of the placement and for providing support services to the family and regular reports to the sending state agency as agreed to at the time of placement authorization. The ICPC law defines the types of placements subject to the law, the procedures to be followed in making an interstate placement, and the specific protections, services, and requirements brought by enactment of the law.