ICPC – Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children

Adoption.com, Encyclopedia of Adoption: Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children

APHSA (American Public Human Services Association) Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children: ICPC, It's For the Children

Guidebook to the ICPC. The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) is premised on the belief that children requiring out-of-state placement will receive the same protections and services that would be provided if they remained in their home states. The ICPC outlines the many steps necessary to place a child out of state. This Guide, updated in 2002, offers a user-friendly/comprehensive discussion of the history, purposes and administration of the Compact as well as the text of the 10 Articles and Regulations of the Compact. Sample Forms used for interstate placements are also listed in the Appendix of this Guide.

Understanding Delays in the Interstate Home Study Process. The home study process, a preplacement assessment of the safety and suitability of a prospective foster or adoptive family, is often seen as a major barrier to timely placement in interstate cases. To examine this issue, the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) conducted a nationwide study of the interstate home study process to identify and document the leading barriers in policy, practice, and administrative procedures that impede or delay the placement of children across state lines. This report, Understanding Delays in the Interstate Home Study Process, includes an analysis of survey responses from 47 states, a description of innovative strategies implemented by states, and suggestions for strengthening the interstate process.