Adopting children from other States requires the involvement of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC), a legally binding agreement between States regulating the placement of children across State lines. All 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted the ICPC as statutory law in their respective jurisdictions.
Another interstate compact, the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA), ensures continuity of adoption assistance payments for children placed across State lines. ICPC and ICAMA forms must be completed by professionals.
These interstate compact do not apply to Indian children who are members of Indian Tribes, but the Indian Child Welfare Act is applicable to those children. Military families often change States and jurisdictions, but adopt using the laws of their State of record. Find resources in this section related to interjurisdictional placements.
Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance
Connects to a nonprofit organization of States working with child welfare agencies, Tribes, and adoptive parents to facilitate and support special needs adoption.
Interjurisdictional Placement
AdoptUsKids
Provides a variety of information related to interjurisdictional placements.
National Foster Care and Adoption Directory Search
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Offers searchable information on a variety of adoption-related organizations and services, including support groups, State officials, and licensed private and public adoption agencies. Prospective adoptive parents can search for agencies in their State and sort results by city, ZIP code, services offered, or languages spoken by staff.
National Military Family Association
Provides adoption information for military families.
State Statutes Search
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Provides summaries of State statutes for prospective parents considering the adoption of a child from another State, including issues related to child abuse and neglect, child welfare, and adoption.