June 18, 2008

Assessment, analysis and recommendations regarding the effectiveness of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) in Colorado courts

Peter M. Koeling, J.D., Ph.D., wrote this study based on the timely defects in the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children in Colorado. The Colorado Court Improvement Program undertook a mandated assessment of the role, responsibilities and effectiveness of state courts in the interstate placement of children under the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC). The assessment and analysis process included six key steps including interviews, focus groups, review of training materials, legal review, case file review and surveys. State wide, approximately 13% of all cases involved the ICPC protocol with some courts seeing up to 25% of their dockets involving interstate placement. The study found that the ICPC process is not working in a timely manner across multiple districts and county systems. By far the most pressing issue is completing the home-study in a timely manner in the other state. In addition, there are bureaucratic slow downs, communication lapses, improper preparation of the necessary paperwork, and the non-disclosure of out-of-state relatives by the family involved in the case, that also cause delay. Further, more than half the judicial officers and attorneys agree that failure to being the ICPC process in a timely manner is one of the main causes of delay. The ICPC itself is under review and a new ICPC has been proposed. The focus of this study is on how to improve the ICPC process under the present protocol.