The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
Posted on Jun 27, 2012 4:29pm PDT
In the United States, government officials have created something that is often referred to as the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC.) This agreement is enacted in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and it controls the movement of children from one state to another when it concerns an adoption.
Because of this agreement, it is a requirement that both the state that the child comes from and the state where he or she will live when placed with the adoptive family must approve the adoption transaction. This may mean adding provisions to a home study or extra paperwork and inspections. In addition, both states need to approve the transaction in writing before the child can be moved to his or her new home. The Compact regulates the interstate movement of foster children, was well.
If parents try to avoid the ICPC to save time or avoid a possible conflict, they will be prosecuted. In some cases, the child will be removed from the parents’ home or foster care parents will lose their license. As well, parents may lose their ability to ever adopt in the future because of their illegal choice. The contract was drafted and enacted in New York in 1960. Before this contract, every state had their own way to regulate adoption laws, and things got complicated when a person from one state decided to adopt from a location with conflicting policies.
The ICPC was set up to give families a uniform law to abide by. There are four situations where this agreement is employed. Anytime that a child is placed in a home preliminary to the adoption, or is placed into a foster care home, group home, or institution, then the ICPC is used. Also, when parents and relatives are given a child and they did not make the placement, or when placements of adjudicated delinquents in institutions are transferred to other states, the ICPC will be used. Whenever dealing with adoption or foster care, ask your family law attorney if this important agreement will make a difference in your case.