The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) is a

contract A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tran ...

among all 50

U.S. states In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

, the

District of Columbia ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

and the

Virgin Islands The Virgin Islands ( es, Islas Vírgenes) are an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. They are geologically and biogeographically the easternmost part of the Greater Antilles, the northern islands belonging to the Puerto Rico Trench and St. Croix ...

providing for protection and support services for children moved between

for birth parent unification or reunification when the court has jurisdiction over the child. The ICPC ensures that the sending agency or individual does not lose jurisdiction over the child once the child moves to the receiving state. An ICPC case is closed when a child is

adopted Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from ...

, reaches the

age of majority The age of majority is the threshold of legal adulthood as recognized or declared in law. It is the moment when minors cease to be considered such and assume legal control over their persons, actions, and decisions, thus terminating the contr ...

, or becomes self-supporting or when the appropriate authorities in the sending state and receiving state agree that the ICPC case can be closed. The idea for the ICPC was developed in the 1950s, and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

became the first party to the agreement in 1960.

Placement process

A request for placement of a child in another state requires a court order, case plan, a summary of information on the child, and a financial and medical plan. A ten-step process must be completed to comply with the ICPC's requirements. This process involves the ICPC offices in both states and the local

social services Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. They may be provided by individuals, private and independent organisations, or administe ...

program. There can be delays of over six months for completing the process, and some states do not accept requests for out-of-state placements.

References

External links

Text of Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children

ICPC Regulations

Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) and Interjurisdictional Placements

ICPC State Pages for all 50 and the Virgin Islands
United States interstate compacts {{law-stub