Procedure for Initiating the Compact 619-01-25-01

(Revised 10/31/06 ML #3052)

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  1. Determine that a potential resource for child(ren) exists in another state.  Resources may include:
  1. Biological parent(s)
  2. Relative
  3. Foster family
  4. Adoptive family
  5. Group care facility or residential treatment facility
  1. The “sending party” (which may be an individual, a public agency, a private agency, or the court) who has legal custody of the child will prepare an ICPC referral packet, which shall include:
  1. Five copies of completed SFN 965, ICPC-100A, Placement Request.
  2. Three copies of the cover letter:
  1. Reason out-of-state placement is being pursued.
  2. Statement indicating the person/agency/court which has legal custody of child.
  3. Permanency goal for child and the expected achievement date.
  4. Plans for meeting cost of care in other state, including who is financially responsible for child.
  5. Identification of child=s eligibility/ineligibility status for Title IV-E, Adoption Subsidy, and/or SSI.
  6. Request for evaluation of the proposed resource and identifying information about resource (including type of resource, e.g. biological family, foster family, adoptive, etc.)
  7. Address parental visits, if applicable.
  1. Three copies of a social summary on each child:
  1. Identifying information (name, birthdate, race, religion).
  2. Child’s personality and history.
  3. Child’s developmental history.
  4. Child’s biological family and reason for placement.
  5. Evaluation of child's present needs and type of home or institution desired for child.
  1. Three copies of court order (identifying who has legal custody of child(ren)).
  2. Three copies of medical and educational reports on child(ren).
  3. Three copies of documentation of any diagnosed special needs of the child(ren).
  4. Three copies of SFN 395, ICPC Financial and Medical Plan.

NOTE: A referral for an adoptive placement requires additional materials for the referral packet; three copies of:  

  1. the adoptive family assessment,
  2. birth parent medical/social history, and
  3. documentation as to compliance with ICWA (for Native American children), in addition to those items previously noted.
  1. The completed referral packet (with appropriate number of copies of all documents) is sent to the Deputy Compact Administrator, State Capitol.
  2. The Deputy Compact Administrator will review the referral packet for:
  1. Compliance with applicable state laws of the sending state.
  2. Compliance with applicable agency policies/procedures.
  3. Inclusion of all necessary documents.
  4. Completeness as required by the receiving state.
  5. The Deputy Compact Administrator will forward the appropriate number of copies of the referral to the receiving state ICPC office (or return the referral to the local office if necessary).

 

NOTE: Placement of the child(ren) cannot occur until approval has been given by the receiving state ICPC Unit and the sending state ICPC unit.  Refer to Article III of the Compact.

 

  1. The receiving state ICPC unit will review the referral packet for:
  1. Compliance with applicable state laws.
  2. Inclusion of all necessary documents.
  1. The receiving state ICPC unit will forward the referral packet to the appropriate local office/agency for assignment to a worker.
  2. The local office/agency receives the ICPC referral from their Central Office and completes the requested family assessment.  If additional information is needed, contact should be with their respective Central Office ICPC Unit.  If appropriate (and with approval from the ICPC Unit), direct contact with the sending person/agency may be made.  

 

The Safe & Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children Act of 2006, PL 109-239,requires home studies/assessments to be completed within 60 days from the date the referral is received in the State ICPC office.

 

A home study/assessment as defined within this law is not the same as the full home study process as defined within individual states and does not require a state to recommend or approve that a child be placed in the receiving state based on the home study evaluation alone. The home study should state whether the home environment meets the individual needs of the child, including the child’s safety, permanency, health, well-being, and mental, emotional, and physical development.

  1. Upon completion of the requested home study/assessment/service provision, the worker prepares three (3) copies of the home study. If the home study is complete, it must include a recommendation for/against the proposed placement. A decision for/against placement will be made on the 100A.
  2. If the home study is not complete* and a recommendation for/against placement has not been made, the State ICPC office will not make a decision for/against placement until the remainder of the home study documents have been received and an agency recommendation has been made. These documents will be forwarded to the sending State with a decision on the 100A for/against placement.

 

*Examples include PRIDE training not complete, reference checks not returned.

  1. Three copies of the completed assessment are sent to the ICPC Unit for review.  After reviewing the assessment, the designated ICPC staff person will sign the ICPC-100A to approve/deny the proposed placement.
  2. Two copies of the signed 100A form and two copies of the completed assessment will be mailed to the sending state ICPC unit.
  3. The sending state ICPC unit will receive the completed assessment with approved/denied form 100A and will forward one copy of each document to the “sending party.”
  4. If placement has been approved, the child may be placed with the proposed caretaker.
  5. The “sending party” prepares form ICPC-100B (Child's Placement/Replacement Status) and sends three copies to their Central Office ICPC Unit.

 

NOTE: Supervision of a placement does not begin until the Receiving State’s local office/agency has received confirmation that placement has occurred.

  1. The local office in the receiving state will supervise the placement and submit progress reports as requested by the sending state.
  2. If the placement disrupts or is otherwise completed, form ICPC-100B is prepared by the “Sending Party” in order to close the ICPC case in both states.