When using the multi-agency approach, a hopeful adoptive family is often matched with an expectant mother out of their home state. After the baby is born and the birth mother’s consent is valid according to her state’s consent laws, a packet is prepared by the agency/attorney and sent to ICPC.
ICPC stands for Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. It is an agreement between all 50 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The purpose of the ICPC is to ensure that any child placed outside his or her home state is placed in a safe environment.
The state in which the child was born reviews the packet of documentation. After deeming it sufficient, they will send the packet to the state in which the adoptive parents reside. In short, the states need to communicate. One state, responsible for the safety and well-being of the child, needs to make sure that another state is aware that this child will soon be a resident.
Only after ICPC of both states approve the placement, may the adoptive parents return home with the child and move forward with any legal proceedings. Processing generally takes about a week, but may take longer. Adoptive families should prepare to stay in the baby’s birth state for about 2-3 weeks.
What can you do as you wait out ICPC? Bond with the baby! This often turns into a sacred time for the adoptive parents because you're free of visitors and the daily routine of being home. Instead it can be a time to catch up on sleep, snuggle with the baby, and start creating those important attachments.
+ If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the services we provide at Christian Adoption Consultants, I would love to chat! Feel free to email me at meg@christianadoptionconsultant.com. +
References:
https://afth.org/8275-2/
www.adoption.com
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