Interstate Placements
Interstate Compact
Placing children across state lines for foster care and adoption presents unique legal issues due to involvement of multiple states, agencies, and occasionally multiple courts.
These placements are primarily governed by the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC), an agreement between the states enacted in state law.
The Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (AAICPC) promulgates rules and regulations to carry out the Compact.
The AAICPC proposed a new ICPC in 2008.
Interstate Placement Assessments Background
The
Safe and Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children
Act of 2006 required Court Improvement Programs to assess
the courts’ roles in interstate placements and make
recommendations for reform to the state high courts.
Program
Instructions for Court Improvement Program (CIP) Funds for
Fiscal Years 2007-2011. Administration for Children
and Families. Provided instructions to states on the Interstate
Placement Assessments. Legal
Issues for the CIP Assessment of Interstate Child Welfare
Proceeding.
PowerPoint presentation by Mark Hardin provides an overview
of legal issues in interstate placements including examination
of relevant federal laws.
Notes from the March, 10th 2008 conference call are available
here.
Florida’s Electronic ICPC System
“Powerpoint presentation by Stephen Pennypacker, Esq. president elect to AAICPC. Given at CIP Day August 3, 2009. Highlights Florida’s electronic ICPC processing system.”
Interstate Placement Assessments
Individual state assessments on the legal and judicial role in expediting interstate placements are available here.
Safe and Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children Questionnaire
In April 2008, the Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues prepared a short questionnaire regarding delays in interstate placement of children, the effect of the Safe and Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children Act of 2006 (the Act), and suggestions for legal reform for improving safe and timely interstate placements. View the results of the questionnaire.