8300 Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC)
8310 ICPC Home Study Services
CPS November 2006
Requests for ICPC home studies are sent from another state to the Texas ICPC State Office where they are reviewed and then forwarded to the appropriate regional ICPC liaison for referral to a contractor. For policy and procedures for a CPS worker in Texas to request a home study in another state, see the ICPC Resource Guide.
Once regional management has made the decision to contract out the ICPC Home Study Services, a regional ICPC liaison may authorize these services according to regional guidelines.
8311 Determining Eligibility
CPS November 2006
Clients are eligible for ICPC Home Study Services when:
• a home study is formally requested by the sending state; and
• the sending state is appointed by court order as the child's managing conservator, guardian, or agency responsible for care and placement.
Clients referred to the regional ICPC liaison by the ICPC State Office are eligible for ICPC Home Study Services.
Generally, the clients referred are:
• parents;
• relatives; and
• foster families who have moved to Texas.
Approvals for private placements, adoptions, and placements in licensed residential care facilities are handled by the ICPC State Office.
8312 Identifying Available Services
CPS November 2006
The ICPC Home Study Services available through the contract must include:
• establishing contact with the referred individual or family;
• collecting documents for verification purposes;
• interviewing all members of the household being studied;
• contacting references and collateral sources;
• performing a criminal background check, if required by the contract;
• preparing a report of findings, including the risk assessment tool, which incorporates the results of the criminal background check and IMPACT history checks; and
• meeting with staff to interpret the findings, if requested.
8313 Referring Clients
CPS November 2006
For complete referral instructions on how a regional ICPC liaison refers a client for ICPC Home Study Services, see 8161.1 Active Cases — Authorizing, Extending, or Terminating Direct Services.
In addition, the regional ICPC liaison must send the contractor providing the services:
• all information received from the sending state as forwarded by the Texas ICPC State Office, and
• any IMPACT history or any criminal history obtained.
The following information should be included in the referral to the contractor:
• Form 2260 (100-A), Interstate Compact Placement Request, or Form 2276 (101), Sending State Priority Home Study Request;
• A cover memo requesting the home study, including:
• a description of the child (health, emotional, educational, and social needs),
• a psychological testing report or other assessment,
• information on the proposed placement, including any contact made by the sending state, and
• documentation of Title IV-E eligibility, if appropriate;
• The court order appointing the sending state as the child's managing conservator, guardian, or person responsible are and placement;
• A Child's Plan of Service; and
• Other information that would help the contractor conduct the home study.
If the referral is for an adoptive home study, then the regional ICPC liaison must also forward to the contractors:
• an ICPC request for an adoptive home study;
• proof that the child is legally free for adoption;
• a statement identifying the state in which the adoption will be finalized.
8314 Using IMPACT
CPS May 2011
To authorize services, workers must enter the following details into the IMPACT case management system:
IMPACT Field |
IMPACT Entry |
|---|---|
Stage |
SUB |
Stage Type |
CIC |
Category |
Other |
Service |
ICPC Relative/Caregiver/Parent Home Assessment |
Unit of Service |
Study/Hour |
Service Code |
81C |
| IMPACT Field |
IMPACT Entry |
|---|---|
Stage |
SUB |
Stage Type |
CIC |
Category |
Other |
Service |
ICPC Foster and Adopt Home Study |
Unit of Service |
Study/Hour |
Service Code |
81D |
| IMPACT Field |
IMPACT Entry |
|---|---|
Stage |
SUB |
Stage Type |
CIC |
Category |
Other |
Service |
ICPC Adopt Only Home Study |
Unit of Service |
Study/Hour |
Service Code |
81E |
8314.1 When IMPACT is Unavailable
CPS November 2006
If the IMPACT system is not functioning or the worker is otherwise unable to access it, the worker may authorize ICPC Home Study Services by submitting a paper copy of Form 2054, Service Authorization.
For complete instructions, see 8164 Manual Authorization — Submitting a Paper Form.
8315 Handling Additional Duties
CPS November 2006
The regional ICPC liaison must perform the following duties:
• Provide to the Texas ICPC State Office written notification of:
• The name, address, and telephone number of the contractor who will be providing the ICPC Home Study, and
• The anticipated date of the study's completion; see 4522.1 Completing a Home Screening When a Child From Another State Is Placed in Texas and 9330 Processing a Home Screening for a Child Being Placed in Texas From Another State;
• Perform a IMPACT history check on appropriate family members after receiving sufficient information from the contractor;
• Perform a criminal background check on appropriate family members, unless the contract requires the contractor to complete this task;
• Send the IMPACT history check, and if appropriate send the criminal background check, to the contractor so the information can be included in the home study;
• Notify the contractor in writing of any changes in the circumstances or physical location of the client or the family being studied; and
• Complete any duties listed in 4522.1 Completing a Home Screening When a Child From Another State Is Placed in Texas that were not completed by the contractor.
For additional information on ICPC Home Study Services, see the ICPC Resource Guide.
8316 Adding, Extending, Reauthorizing, or Terminating Services
CPS November 2006
To authorize additional units of service, or extend or reauthorize the service, see 8161.1 Active Cases — Authorizing, Extending, or Terminating Direct Services.
To conclude the ICPC Home Study Services, the regional ICPC liaison must:
• receive a completed home study from the contractor;
• get appropriate approvals for the home study;
• make a recommendation for or against the placement; and
• send three copies of the home study and the placement recommendation to the ICPC State Office.
For more information on completing a home study, see the ICPC Resource Guide.
A copy of the criminal background check must be included in the packet sent to the Texas ICPC State Office.
If the service is being terminated before the end date on Form 2054, Service Authorization, see 8161.1 Active Cases — Authorizing, Extending, or Terminating Direct Services.