The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children

Introduction

The Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) recognizes the need for the timely placement of children in foster care into permanent homes. While reunification with biological parents should remain a primary goal, it is not always feasible or in the best interest of the child. COSCA seeks to support the timely and safe movement of children between states to achieve permanency and reduce delays in court processes related to exploring out-of-state placements and overseeing child welfare agency efforts under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). Therefore, the Conference encourages early and diligent exploration of out-of-state relative caregivers and emphasizes concurrent permanency planning.

Consistency

The Conference stresses the importance of uniform procedures, standards, and guidelines across all ICPC member states. To incentivize adherence to established timeframes, COSCA encourages national organizations, and state and federal entities to:

Develop a uniform format for home studies.
Develop a uniform criminal background check process, including deadlines for completion.
Establish federal guidelines and timeframes for processing ICPC cases, including:
- Allowing immediate/provisional placement in receiving states when specified conditions are met.
- Using Title IV-E reasonable efforts findings to increase ICPC compliance.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

COSCA acknowledges the importance of collaboration between courts and child welfare agencies to address state-specific issues. Courts and agencies are encouraged to:

Provide cross-system training on ICPC processes and procedures.
Establish protocols for monitoring ICPC progress and sharing information through status hearings and written updates.
Appoint an "ICPC specialist" in each child welfare office or jurisdiction to serve as a court liaison.
Develop checklists and other aids to assist in preparing ICPC request packets.

Cross-Jurisdictional Collaboration

Recognizing the need for communication between states, COSCA encourages courts and agencies to:

Convene formal dialogues between ICPC administrators and state court administrators across state lines.
Establish Memoranda of Understanding ("Border Agreements") that include protocols and designate a single point of contact in each administrative office of the courts to assist judges with ICPC cases.

Use of Technology

To expedite the ICPC process and enhance participation of out-of-state caregivers, COSCA encourages courts and agencies to:

Develop tracking systems with ticklers for critical points in the ICPC process.
Promote policies allowing the electronic transmission of ICPC forms and reports, in alignment with efforts by the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
Remove barriers to remote participation by enabling teleconferencing and video conferencing for hearings and testimony.

Adopted on December 4, 2009, as proposed by the COSCA Courts, Children, and Families Committee.

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children