ICPC

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Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) is a law that has been enacted by all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands. This law establishes orderly procedures for the interstate placement of children and fixes responsibilities for those involved in placing the child.

Colorado decentralized its ICPC function to 64 local County Departments of Social Services.  The Colorado Department of Human Services has delegated the responsibility and functions associated with interstate placements requests to local County Department of Social Services.  Each county has an ICPC liaison that processes and monitor interstate placements.  ICPC includes referrals on parents, relatives, foster parents, adoptive parents, and residential treatment facilities.  To contact the ICPC liaison from your county, see listing of Colorado’s ICPC liaisons.

Why is a compact needed?
Children placed out of state need to be assured of the same protection and services that would be provided if they remained in their home state. They must also be assured of a return to their original jurisdiction should the placement prove not to be in their best interest.

Who can initiate the Interstate Compact?
Persons who can initiate Interstate Compact referrals are private individuals, the court, child placement agencies, adoption agencies, and public agencies.

Types of placements covered under the Interstate:

• Parent*
• Relative*
• Foster
• Adoptive
• Group Home
• Article VI (adjudicated delinquents) with private institution

*when a child is under the jurisdiction of a county department, court, or child placement agency.

 

Types of placements excluded from the ICPC:

• Boarding Schools
• Medical facilities and hospitals
• Mental health facilities
• Parent to relative when parent or relative has custody (Article VIII)
• Job corps
• Military
• Visits up to 30 days and during summer school vacation with court approval

 

What the ICPC does:

The ICPC law contains ten articles.  They define the types of placements and placers subject to the law, the procedures to be followed in making an interstate placement; and the specific protections, services, and requirements brought by enactment of the law.  In Colorado, the Interstate Compact law is found in the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) 24-60-1801.  For Colorado’s policy and procedures manual for child welfare services on the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, see Volume 7.307.

For more information on the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, please visit the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children’s (AAICPC) website.  The guidebook on the ICPC, the 10 Articles, and Regulations are available in PDF format for your use.

Note: 
Information about a specific state's procedures, requirements, and interpretations and application of the ICPC should be obtained from the ICPC Compact Administrator or Deputy in that state.  For a listing of State Compact Administrators, please visit the APHSA website.

Interstate Compact forms are:
Interstate Compact Placement Request Form 100A
This form is used to request approval to place a child out-of-state. 

Interstate Compact Report on Child's Placement Status Form 100B

This form is used to notify the ICPC office about the status of the placement and Compact Termination. 

For information on ICPC, please contact Chantal Smith at 303-866-2998.