ICPC State Pages

Idaho Home Studies (Adoption/Foster Care/Kinship/Parent/Relative)

Types of Home Studies

Idaho conducts the following types of home studies:

• Relative Care
• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Parent Care
• Foster- Adopt
• Adoption
• Other

Idaho designates staff in each county/region to conduct home studies and/or process interstate placements:

• Yes

Idaho considers a home study as current/valid for:

• Public: 1 year
• Private: 1 year

Private Contract Services - Home Study

As the Sending State, Idaho will pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:

• Yes

As the Receiving State, Idaho will permit a Sending state to pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:

• Yes

As the Receiving State, Idaho will accept/update a home study that was not originally conducted by the receiving state or a private contractor acting on behalf of the Receiving State:

• Will not Update or Accept

Adoptive Home Study

Home study for adoption conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Prospective adoptive parents permitted to pay for a pre-adoptive home study:

• Private Adoptions: Yes
• Independent Adoptions: Yes

DCPS contracts for Purchase of Services with private agencies in other states:

• Yes

Foster Care Home Study

Home study for foster care conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Parent Home Study

If child has been removed from the parent, Idaho requires a home study evaluation before reunification:

• Idaho will complete a comprehensive Parent Home Study prior to placement, and if placement is approved, Idaho will provide placement supervision to ensure stability of the placement prior to case closure.  Once the sending state invokes ICPC and requests a home study, compliance with Article V is expected. Do not recommend case dismissal.  The sending state must retain jurisdiction until written concurrence is received from Idaho ICPC after a sufficient period of supervision, determined on a case by case basis.

Non-Custodial Parents: Placements with non-custodial parents are not covered under the ICPC if:

• • Upon legal consult, IDHW has determined ICPC applies to non-custodial and non-offending parents once the sending state court has taken jurisdiction and the child is in the legal custody of the sending state agency.  Idaho will complete a comprehensive Parent Home Study for non-custodial and/or non-offending parents. Once the sending state invokes ICPC and a home study has been requested, compliance with Article V is expected.  Do not recommend case dismissal. The sending state must retain jurisdiction until written concurrence is received from Idaho ICPC after a sufficient period of supervision, determined on a case by case basis.
    

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Relative/Kinship Home Study

Home study for relatives conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Define Relative:

•  Idaho has a more narrow definition of relative than the ICPC definition. However, Idaho opts to apply the ICPC definition of relative for the purposes of ICPC cases.  

Relatives must be licensed:

• No

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Idaho considers the following types and degrees of relation as relative placements. Individuals related in the 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree and 4th degree (You may need to refer to your state's consanguinity chart or state statute to determine relations or relative status.):

• 1st Degree (mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter)
• 2nd Degree (grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin)
• 3rd Degree (great grandmother, great grandfather, great aunt, great uncle, grand-niece, grand nephew, second cousin)
• Other

Brother-in-law, sister-in-law, half sibling

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

Idaho performs priority placements:

• Yes

A court ordered Priority 7 conducted if the child is in a DCF shelter or foster home for substantial period of time.

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Public

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of educational training):

• 90 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• Other: Idaho requires a background check prior to issuing a 100A decision

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Private

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):

• Other: 60 days - 90 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• Other: 30 day - 60 days

Idaho determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:

• Other

Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study

Criminal Record Checks

Idaho requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

• Foster Care
• Relative Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Foster-Adopt
• Adoption
• Parent

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Idaho requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks (Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR))

Wait Time for Criminal Records Results

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 15-30 days
• Local/County: 4-7 days

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 15-30 days
• Local/County: 4-7 days