5602. Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Placed in Washington State

Applies To: This policy applies to caseworkers.

Policy Number & Title: 5602. Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) Placed in Washington State

Effective Date: July 1, 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to assess the safety and suitability of a placement resource and provide courtesy supervision at the request of a sending state for a child or youth placed through interstate compact in parent, relative, foster, and adoptive homes in Washington State.

Authority

PL 109-239 Safe & Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children Act

Chapter 13.24 RCW Interstate Compact for Juveniles

Chapter 26.34 RCW Interstate Compact on Placement of Children

Policy

ICPC In-State
1. Request and Approval Process
  1. Department of Children, Youth, and Family (DCYF) HQ ICPC receives a written request from another state to assess a placement resource.
  2. HQ ICPC approval is required before a child or youth is placed in Washington State.
  3. HQ ICPC must document the placement request information in the ICPC record.
  4. Washington State may choose to contract out its ICPC home study or courtesy supervision services.
2. Placement
  1. The sending state must place a child or youth in Washington within six months of the placement approval date noted on the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) Placement Request – 100A DCYF 15-092 100A form.
  2. The sending agency maintains jurisdiction and is responsible for the case work and financial obligations for the placement.
  3. Caseworkers must:
    1. Complete monthly health and safety visits.
    2. Determines the placement no longer meets the needs of the child or youth. The child or youth may be removed from their home and placed in a safe and appropriate setting.
    3. Notify HQ ICPC and the sending state.
    4. Submit quarterly supervision reports for biological parent, relative, foster, or adoptive homes to the HQ ICPC office. HQ ICPC sends quarterly supervision reports to the sending state's ICPC office.
  4. HQ ICPC can request a child or youth return to the sending state within 5 business days if the placement is no longer in the best interest of the child or youth.
  5. The sending state cannot move toward finalizing a permanent plan until a period of supervision, placement stability and with a written recommendation from HQ ICPC.
3. Closing an ICPC
  HQ ICPC closes the compact agreement when any of the following are met:
  1. A permanent plan for a child or youth is achieved which occurs only after a period of supervision, placement stability and with agreement from HQ ICPC.
  2. A child or youth is no longer placed in an approved placement.
  3. An approved ICPC placement will not be used.