ICPC State Pages

Compact Administrators

Compact Administrator Karen Austin Department of Children and Family Services P.O. Box 3318 Baton Rouge, LA 70821 Tel: (225) 342-4006 E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Deputy Compact Administrator PLEASE ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: Tomeka Tate P.O. Box 3318 Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (225) 342-4034 Fax (225) 342-0965 E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Consultants

ICPC Specialist (A-H) Gianna Russell Tel: (225) 342-2929 Fax: (225) 342-0965 E-Mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)	Administrative Assistant (A-L) Alexzandra Hansberry Tel: (225) 342-9923 Fax: (225) 342-0965 E-Mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
ICPC Specialist (I-Q) Carli Estelle Tel: (225) -342-4075 Fax: (225) 342-0965 E-Mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)	Administrative Assistant (M-Z) Sharen Powe Tel: (225) 342-2929 Fax: (225) 342-0965 E-Mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
ICPC Specialist (R-Z) Brienne Zagar Thibodeaux 225-342-2929 225-342-0965 E-Mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Mailing Address

Regular Mailing Address Department of Children and Family Services P.O. Box 3318 Baton Rouge, LA 70821

Federal Express Address Department of Children and Family Services 627 North 4th St. Office 3-305 Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Useful Telephone Numbers

Child Abuse Hotline In State:  1-855-452-5437 Out-of-State: 1-855-452-5437	Juvenile Compact Office Office of Juvenile Justice 225 287-7925
Mental Health Compact Office Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (225) 342-0095 1 866 783-5553

Useful Websites

 

General Iinformation

 

Co-Located Compacts - ICPC, ICAMA, ICJ

Adoption

Independent /Private

Independent/Private Adoptive Placements:

Louisiana permits private attorney, private agency and/or independent adoptions

Adoption Statute-Non-Agency; Independent; Private Adoptions:

• Children's Code Article  1221, et seq
• Children's Code Article 1198,et seq

Public

Public Adoptive Placements-Requirements

Minimum Qualifications for Certification

• At least 21 years of age
• Single, married, divorced, or widowed
• Financially stable (able to meet own family’s needs)
• Good physical, emotional and mental health
• Adequate space in home for additional child
• Pass state and federal criminal clearances
• Attend 21 hours of pre-service training
• Participate in home study process

INDEPENDENT / PRIVATE / PUBLIC

The following information applies to independent, private and public adoptions

Adoption Assistance

Adoption assistance payments begins

• Other : The 1st day of the month following the month the petition is filed.

Sending State Adoption Subsidy Payments (Guidelines)

The Adoption Subsidy Agreement (SA-II) is a formalized written agreement, binding on all parties, between the State agency, other relevant agencies and the prospective adoptive parents of a minor child which, at a minimum:

1. Specifies the amount of the payments and any services which are to be provided;

2. Specifies the type of subsidy(ies) and the duration of the subsidy(ies);

3. Stipulates that the agreement is to remain in effect regardless of the state of residence of the

adoptive parents; and

4. Specifies procedures and conditions for reauthorization and termination.

The SA II Agreement has two parts: Part 1. Provisional Approval, is completed prior to the placement of the child/signing of the 427-B, and Part 2. Final Determination of Approval, is completed at the time of the adoption petition filing. Final approval is given if the child's eligibility status remains unchanged. For the Title IV-E and non-IV-E Medicaid Adoption Subsidy eligible child, this document apprises the adoptive family of the child's continued entitlement to Medicaid until age 19.

Special Needs

Louisiana definition of "Special Needs"

A “Special Needs” child is one with a preexisting condition(s) such that it is reasonable to conclude that the child may be difficult to place in an adoptive home without the aid of subsidy.

Finalization

Adoption may be finalized in another state:

• Yes

Before finalization can occur in Louisiana, child must be in adoptive placement:

• 6 months
• Other

Statutory code/cite for Adoption Petition

Children's Code Articles  1208;  1230 & 1253

Court Jurisdiction for Adoption Cases

Children's Code, Article 1180

Home Study (Adoptions)

Statutory code/cite for the Adoptive Home Studies:

Children's Code, Articles 1207 & 1173 

Age of Majority

State's age of majority

• 18 years

Statutory code/cite and the age of majority:

• Civil Code Article 29

Services (after Age of Majority)

As the Receiving State, the following services will be provided/continued at the age of majority:

• Medicaid

Appeals

Appeals permitted:

• Home Study: No
• ICPC Decision: No

Border Agreements

Border Agreements permitted:

• Yes

Current Border Agreements with:

• None - Not Applicable

Border Agreements

Border Agreements permitted:

• No

Current Border Agreements with:

• None - Not Applicable

Criminal Background Checks/Abuse and Neglect Registry

Home Studies which Require Criminal / Perpetrator Record Checks

Louisiana requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

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

 

Criminal Background Screening

The following methods are used to capture fingerprints to conduct criminal records checks/and abuse and neglect.

• Live Scan or other computerized technology

 

Criminal background checks/screening via Live Scan or other computerized technology are offered at the following levels:

• National
• State

 

Background Screening

State or Local Criminal Record Checks Requirements/Process:

Name and social security search.

 

Applicant will not be approved if the person has committed any of the following misdemeanor or felony offenses:

Offenses indicated in Child Protection Act, R.S. 15: 587.1 and Public Law 105.89

 

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Louisiana 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: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Verification of Criminal Records Results

• Actual results/information contained in the Criminal Background

Public Education Costs

Louisiana charges for public education:

• No

Louisiana charges the sending state for specialized services (occupational, speech therapy)

• Other: Refer to medicaid services.

Louisiana charges the Sending State to obtain assessments/diagnostics and/or services for education purposes:

• No

Financial Plans, Medicaid, IV-E, Daycare, Payments

FINANCIAL PLANS

Louisiana permits a child in the legal custody of a Sending State to apply for and receive the following state administered assistance/benefits in Louisiana as the Receiving State.

• Medicaid
• TANF Child Only
• Kin-Guardianship - State

As the Sending state, following are considered as a viable financial/medical plan when making interstate placements:

• Applying for TANF - (Family Income Based)
• Applying for TANF - Child Only
• Title IV-E Foster Care
• Title IV-E Adoption Assistance
• Sending State Adoption Assistance
• Kin-Guardianship - Fostering Connections (IV-E)
• Kin-Guardianship - State
• Medicaid

As the Receiving state, following are considered a viable financial/medical plan when receiving interstate placements:

• Applying for TANF - (Family Income Based)
• Applying for TANF - Child Only
• Title IV-E Foster Care
• Title IV-E Adoption Assistance
• Sending State Adoption Assistance
• Kin-Guardianship - Fostering Connections (IV-E)
• Kin-Guardianship - State
• Medicaid
• Sending State’s Coverage for Medical Assistance

MEDICAID / MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

The state will ensure medical coverage benefits and services can be received through benefits, programs and providers in the Receiving State before placing a child across state lines.

• Yes

Medicaid

The receiving state is responsible for the Medicaid benefits of children eligible under Title IV-E. Otherwise, the responsibility is with the sending state (see Foster Care Payments).

• Yes

WAITING PERIOD FOR MEDICAID BENEFITS

Waiting period to apply for benefit assistance:

• No waiting period

Waiting period to receive benefits for a child who is under the legal custody/legal jurisdiction of the sending state:

• 30 days

STATE MEDICAL INSURANCE/COVERAGE

As the Sending State, Louisiana will provide medical coverage if the child is NOT IV-E eligible

• Yes: Reimbursement to placement resource or direct payment to the providers.

As the Sending State, Louisiana will permit Placement Resources to apply for medical benefits in the Receiving State or use their personal insurance.

• Yes

PAYMENTS MADE

TANF Payments

• To qualify for cash assistance, a child must reside in the home of a parent or other qualified relative who is responsible for the day-to-day care of the child. The following relatives are qualified relatives: ● grandfather or grandmother (extends to great-great-great); ● brother or sister (including half-brother and half-sister); ● uncle or aunt (extends to great-great); ● first cousin (including first cousin once removed); ● nephew or niece (extends to great-great); ● stepfather or stepmother; ● stepbrother or stepsister. These may be either biological or adoptive relatives.

Adoption assistance payments begin:

• Other, please specify

Foster Care Payments

• Monthly board rates are made to foster parents and relatives whose homes are certified for children in the custody of the State. Board rates are intended to help meet the daily needs of the child for shelter, food, clothing, allowance and incidental expenses. The board rates shall not be used by foster parents or relatives for expenditures that are not part of the needs of the child.

Special Education Payments

• No

Daycare Payments

• Yes

Day care services provide goal oriented, time limited service of substitute parental care for children *under** thirteen years of age in day care centers for part of a twenty-four hour day. Day care services are out of home child day care services that are provided either on a full-time or part-time basis for protective services reasons. They are provided to children who are active in the Child Protection Investigation Program or Family Services Program along with other necessary services directed toward improving family functioning and allowing the children to remain safely in their own home. They can also be provided to children who are active in the Foster Care Program when the eligibility criteria is met in order to make and/or maintain the child’s placement when maintaining the placement is in the child’s best interest.

Kinship Program

yes

TITLE IV-E

Medicaid - The receiving state is responsible for the Medicaid benefits of children eligible under Title IV-E. Otherwise, the responsibility is with the sending state (see Foster Care Payments).

• Yes

Title IV-E documentation/verification required

• Yes: Written documentation verifying IV-E eligibility.

Foster Care

RATES (Foster Care)

Foster care rate paid at:

• Sending State’s rate
• Negotiable

Louisiana foster care rates:

REQUIREMENTS (Foster Care)

Foster Care Resource Requirements:

 At least 21 years of age;  single, married, divorced, or widowed;  financially stable (able to meet own family’s needs);  good physical, emotional and mental health;  adequate space in home for additional child;  pass state and federal criminal clearances;  child abuse/neglect clearances;  attend 21 hours of pre-service training and participate in home study process.

Training (Education and Training)

• Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP)

Adoptive Home Studies

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

• No

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

Individuals related by blood, half-blood, adoption or marriage including persons of preceding generations denoted by the prefixes of “grand” and/or “great” and persons whose relationships are denoted by the prefix of “step”.

Relatives must be licensed:

• No

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Louisiana 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.)

• 4th Degree (great, great-grandmother, great, great-grandfather, great, great aunt, great, great aunt, great, great uncle, great grand-niece, great grand nephew, third cousin)

Criminal Record Checks

Louisiana 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)

Louisiana 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: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

ICPC Processing And Data Collection

ICPC Placement Checklists

Criminal Records Checks

Louisiana 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)

Louisiana 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 Checks

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Wait Time - (License/ Certification/ Approval - Education and Training)

Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:

• 3-6 mos.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required.

• OtherRenewed at 6 months and annual thereafter.

Louisiana offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved:

• OtherEach region set its own training schedule.

Wait Time for ICPC Decision

Data Collection

Louisiana collects, tracks and reports interstate data via:

• Manually (By hand)

Louisiana collects, tracks and reports interstate home studies via

• ICPC Access Database

Licensing/Certification/Approval

Licensing

Dual Licensing state:

• Yes

Louisiana uses the following terms to authorize a resource family for foster care and (or) adoption after completion of education and training in state:

• Approve (Adoption)
• Verified (Foster Home)
• Certified

Louisiana requires the following types of placement resources to be licensed/approved/certified:

• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Adoption
• Foster/Adopt

Louisiana resource training program is as follows:

• PRIDE (Parents Resource Information Development Education)

Louisiana will give full or partial credit for foster care and adoption education and training completed in another state:

• Adoption
  OtherDepends on whether sending state training is comparable to MAPP.
• Foster Care
  OtherDepends on whether sending state training is comparable to MAPP.

Title IV-E documentation/verification required

• Yes: Written documentation verifying IV-E eligibility.

Requirements (Licensing)

Licensing Requirements

• Foster homes are certified, not licensed in Louisiana.  The requirements for certification are listed below.

Foster Care Placements

•  Minimum Qualifications for Certification
  

  • At least 21 years of age
  • Single, married, divorced, or widowed
  • Financially stable (able to meet own family’s needs)
  • Good physical, emotional and mental health
  • Adequate space in home for additional child
  • Pass state and federal criminal clearances
  • Attend 21 hours of pre-service training
  • Participate in home study process

Wait Time - (License/ Certification/ Approval - Education and Training)

Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:

• 3-6 mos.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required.

• OtherRenewed at 6 months and annual thereafter.

Louisiana offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved:

• OtherEach region set its own training schedule.

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Criminal Records Checks

Louisiana 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)

Louisiana 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 Checks

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

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

Verification of Criminal Records Results

• Actual results/information contained in the Criminal Background

Wait Time - (License/ Certification/ Approval - Education and Training)

Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:

• 3-6 mos.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required.

• OtherRenewed at 6 months and annual thereafter.

Louisiana offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved:

• OtherEach region set its own training schedule.

Relative Placements

Relative Home Study

Define Relative

Individuals related by blood, half-blood, adoption or marriage including persons of preceding generations denoted by the prefixes of “grand” and/or “great” and persons whose relationships are denoted by the prefix of “step”.

Relatives must be licensed:

• No

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Louisiana 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.)

• 4th Degree (great, great-grandmother, great, great-grandfather, great, great aunt, great, great aunt, great, great uncle, great grand-niece, great grand nephew, third cousin)

Criminal Records Checks

Louisiana 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)

Louisiana 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 Checks

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

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

Verification of Criminal Records Results

• Actual results/information contained in the Criminal Background

Wait Time - (License/ Certification/ Approval - Education and Training)

Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:

• 3-6 mos.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required.

• OtherRenewed at 6 months and annual thereafter.

Louisiana offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved:

• OtherEach region set its own training schedule.

Residential Treatment Centers/Facilities

Before Louisiana will approve a child for an interstate placement with an RTF, Certification/verification of acceptance is required from the Residential Treatment Facility (RTF).

• Yes

Residential Placements

24-hour care for children living in a residential facility and the provision of full-time

therapeutic care according to an approved treatment plan for each child.

Supervisory Reports

Louisiana Requires face-to-face supervision:

• Once a month

Louisiana will provide supervision of an interstate placement:

• Until the age of Majority as defined in the Receiving State

Louisiana Submits a supervisory report to the Sending State

• Quarterly

Louisiana will send a supervision report to:

• The ICPC in the Sending State

Supervision Guidelines

Please see Regulation 11 for supervision requirements under the ICPC (Link provided below):

• Best Practice Guidelines for Supervision via the ICPC

Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)

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

• No

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

• Yes

After TPR, relatives are no longer relatives and a foster care or adoptive home study must be requested.

• No

Relative Home Study

Define Relative

Individuals related by blood, half-blood, adoption or marriage including persons of preceding generations denoted by the prefixes of “grand” and/or “great” and persons whose relationships are denoted by the prefix of “step”.

Relatives must be licensed:

• No

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Louisiana 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.)

• 4th Degree (great, great-grandmother, great, great-grandfather, great, great aunt, great, great aunt, great, great uncle, great grand-niece, great grand nephew, third cousin)