ICPC State Pages

Compact Administrators

Compact Administrator Commissioner Jodi Harpstead With questions or concerns please contact Mical Peterson@651-431-4728

Deputy Compact Administrator All Public Requests and Private Adoption Requests Ashley Samba PO Box 64247 St. Paul, MN 55164-0247 Tel: (651) 431-4727 Fax: (651) 431-7628 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Ashley Holmes PO Box 64247 St. Paul, MN 55164-0247 Tel: (651)431-4710 Fax: (651)431-7628 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Rachel Washington PO Box 64247 St. Paul, MN 55164-0247 Tel: (651)431-4488 Fax: (651)431-7628 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Consultants

ICPC Specialist (A-H) Parent/Relative/Foster Care/Adoption requests should be sent to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Residential Treatment/Group Home requests: Rachel Washington PO Box 64247 St. Paul, MN 55164-0247 Tel:(651)-431-4488 Fax: (651) 431-7628 Email requests to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)	Administrative Assistant (A-L) None
ICPC Specialist (I-Q) None	Administrative Assistant (M-Z) None
ICPC Specialist (R-Z) None

Mailing Address

Regular Mailing Address PO Box 62427 St. Paul, MN 55164-0247

Federal Express Address Dept of Human Services - Minnesota Attn: ICPC 444 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155

Useful Telephone Numbers

Child Abuse Hotline No Child Abuse Hotline. Each county has its own 24-hour Hotline	Juvenile Compact Office Department of Corrections 651-361-7321
Mental Health Compact Office Erika Weymann Minnesota Dept of Human Services State Operated Services Support Division PO Box 64979 St. Paul, MN 55164-0979 Phone: 651-431-2531 Fax: 651-431-7505 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Useful Websites

 

General Iinformation

 

Co-Located Compacts - ICPC, ICAMA, ICJ

Adoption

Independent /Private

Independent/Private Adoptive Placements:

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

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

Minnesota Statutes, section, 245A.03, Subdivision 1: WHO MUST BE LICENSED.  License required.

Unless licensed by the commissioner, an individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, other organization, or controlling individual must not:

1. operate a residential or a nonresidential program;
2. receive a child or adult for care, supervision, or placement in foster care or adoption;
3. help plan the placement of a child or adult in foster care or adoption or engage in placement activities as defined in section 259.21, subdivision 9, in this state, whether or not the adoption occurs in this state. . . .

Minnesota Statutes, section 259.21, subdivision 9, DEFINITIONS: Subd. 9.Placement activities.

"Placement activities" means any of the following:

1. placement;
2. arranging or providing short-term foster care pending an adoptive placement;
3. facilitating placement by maintaining a list in any form of birth parents or prospective adoptive parents;
4. collecting health and social histories of a birth family;
5. conducting an adoption study;
6. witnessing consents to an adoption; or
7. engaging in any activity listed in clauses (1) to (6) for purposes of fulfilling any requirements of the interstate compact on the placement of children.

Public

Public Adoptive Placements-Requirements

100A

Adam Walsh Clearances specific to adoption

Adoptive Home Study

Medical Records

*Copies of hospital records (birth and discharge information)

*Any other relevant medical records

Birth Parent Social /Medical History

*Plan specifically addresses placement in requested home (and the potential services needed for the child)

CONSENTS OR TPR

Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)   ____ yes   ____ no

*If yes, was the Tribe or Bureau of Indian Affairs notified

*Copy of the notification included

*Membership determination been made by Tribe

*Copy of the Tribe’s response attached

INDEPENDENT / PRIVATE / PUBLIC

The following information applies to independent, private and public adoptions

Adoption Assistance

Adoption assistance payments begins

• After the adoption is finalized

Sending State Adoption Subsidy Payments (Guidelines)

Special Needs

Minnesota definition of "Special Needs"

State definition of Special Needs

Finalization

Adoption may be finalized in another state:

• Yes

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

• 3 months

Statutory code/cite for Adoption Petition

Minnesota Statutes, section 259.22 and Minnesota Statutes, section 259.53

Court Jurisdiction for Adoption Cases

Minnesota may complete an adoption home study on a family if a TPR has not been completed for the child who is the subject of the request.

Home Study (Adoptions)

Statutory code/cite for the Adoptive Home Studies:

Minnesota Statutes, section 259.41

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

• Yes

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

• Private Adoptions: Yes
• Independent Adoptions: Yes

Age of Majority

State's age of majority

• 18 years

Statutory code/cite and the age of majority:

• Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.02 and 259.21. According to Minnesota Rule, parts 2960.3010, subpart 21, an individual may continue to receive foster care services through the age of 21 if in special education, or a juvenile under the jurisdiction of a juvenile court.

Services (after Age of Majority)

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

• Supervision
• Respite
• Medicaid

Appeals

Appeals permitted:

• Home Study: No
• ICPC Decision: No

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

Minnesota requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

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

Finterprints are used to conduct FBI checks on persons 18 and older for studies conducted in connection with child foster care and adoptions.
  County social service agencies and private child placing agencies provide finterprint cards (supplied by DHS which include the correct ORI and “reason fingerprinted) to the background study subject.  The subject is fingerprinted, generally at a local law enforcement agency, and returns the FP card to the county or private agency who sends the FP cards to DHS along with a request to conduct a background study.  DHS scans the fingerprint cards and sends an electronic image through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to the FBI.  The results of the FBI check are returned electronically to DHS.

The results are received from the FBI within 24 hours.  (Generally within an hour or two.)

The state record check (through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) is based on the background study subject’s name and date of birth.  It is not a fingerprint based check.  See below.

 

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
• Finger Print cards

 

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

• National

 

Background Screening

State or Local Criminal Record Checks Requirements/Process:

Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.03, requires that a background study is conducted on all household members aged 13 and older and employees of the child foster care license who will provide direct contact services.  In addition, when the commissioner of DHS has reasonable cause to believe that information exists that may result in an individual's disqualification, a background study may also be conducted on household member aged 10-12, and non-household members who, without providing direct contact services may have unsupervised access to foster children.  

The background study includes a name and date of birth check of records on file with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; a name and DOB check against names of substantiated perpetrators of maltreatment of vulnerable adults from Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) investigations in programs licensed by DHS and MDH; a name and DOB check against names of substantiated perpetrators of maltreatment of vulnerable adults from county adult protection investigations; a name and date of birth check against the names of substantiated perpetrators of maltreatment of minors from county child protection investigations and DHS investigations in licensed programs; a check against the child abuse and neglect registry in any state the background study subject has resided in the previous five years; and a fingerprint based FBI check for study subjects who are 18 years of age and older.  (MN STAT §245C.08)

 

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

 

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Minnesota 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: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered

Verification of Criminal Records Results

All federal and state background study results are reviewed by DHS staff. The results of the background study (including non-disqualifying criminal and/or maltreatment information) are provided to the county or private child placing agency.

Custody Matters - NON ICPC

(NOTE: These are private or domestic custody matters brought before the court for determination/decision)

Non-ICPC Requests - (i.e. private/domestic custody cases)

ICPC Office will not investigate a domestic or private custody matter.

• Parent vs. Parent: No
• Third Parties: No

ICPC Offices will assist with referral:

• No

Custody Investigation

Definitions

Minnesota Specific Definitions

If the following terms are defined differently than below (General Definitions), please provide definitions for the following types of placements as defined within your state. If definitions in your state are the same, please type the word same in the space provided. (only 250 characters per answer will be accepted).

Adoption

Same

Foster-Adopt

Same

Foster Care

Minnesota Rules, part 9560.0521, subpart 9:  Subp. 9. Foster care. "Foster care" means the 24-hour-a-day care of a child following placement by the commissioner or a licensed child-placing agency with legal placement responsibility pursuant to a court order or voluntary placement agreement, in any facility that regularly provides one or more children, when unaccompanied by a parent or guardian, with a substitute for the care, food, lodging, training, education, supervision, or treatment they need which for any reason cannot be furnished by a parent or guardian in the child's home.

Parent

Minnesota Rules, part 9560.0521, subpart 17:   Parent."Parent" means a child's parent by birth or adoption. For an Indian child, parent includes any Indian person who has adopted a child by tribal law or custom, as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 260.755, subdivision 14.

Relative

MN ICPC uses the definition of relative defined in Minnesota Statute 260.007 subd. 27  "Relative" means a person related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption; the legal parent, guardian, or custodian of the child's siblings; or an individual who is an important friend of the child or of the child's parent or custodian, including an individual with whom the child has resided or had significant contact or who has a significant relationship to the child or the child's parent or custodian.

Relative Foster Care

Minnesota does not distinguish between foster care and relative foster care; the licensing requirements are the same.

General Definitions

Adoption

is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth parents. Adoption results in the severing of the parental responsibilities and rights of the biological parents and the placing of those responsibilities and rights onto the adoptive parents. After the finalization of an adoption, there is no legal difference between biological and adopted children.

The types of adoptions permitted by each state are governed by state law:

• Private Agency - are adoptions facilitated by a private licensed agency (i.e. domestic and international).
• Independent - are adoptions facilitated by an attorney, other intermediary, or adoption facilitator as defined by state law.
• Public - are adoptions facilitated by a public state or local agency and involve children who are in the custody of a state/local government agency.

Days

means “Calendar” (not business) days.

Foster - Adopt

is an individual who has been approved as a licensed foster parent and who has made an offer of an adoption commitment if the child becomes legally free.

Foster Care (Provider)

is any person other than a natural or adoptive parent with whom a child is in the care, custody, or guardianship of the State Child Welfare Agency and placed by said division, or with its approval for temporary or long-term care but shall not include any person with whom a child is placed for the purpose of adoption.  Foster home means and includes private residences that are licensed, or specialized group homes.

Foster Care Maintenance Payments

means payments to cover the cost of (and the cost of providing) food, clothing, shelter, daily supervision, school supplies, a child's personal incidentals, liability insurance with respect to a child, and reasonable travel to the child's home for visitation. In the case of institutional care, such term shall include the reasonable costs of administration and operation of such institution as are necessarily required to provide the items described in the preceding sentence.

Legal Risk Adoptions

A legal risk adoption, or a legal risk placement, is one where a prospective adoptive child is placed in your home although the child is not yet legally free to be adopted.

License/certification/approval

means approval and or certification granted by the authority of a state regulatory agency.

Live Scan

is an electronic computerized technology which digitally scans fingerprints and provides immediate transmission of fingerprint records to the Department of Justice, FBI or other authorized receiving agency.

Parent

is a biological, adoptive parent or legal guardian as determined by applicable State law and is responsible for the care, custody and control of a child or upon whom there is legal duty for such care.

Relative

is a birth or adoptive brother, sister, stepparent, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, niece, nephew, as well as relatives of half blood or marriage and those denoted by the prefixes of grand and great including grand parent or great grandparent, or as defined in your state statute for the purpose of foster and or adoptive placements.

Relative-Foster Care

refers to a person who meets the definition of a relative as noted above and has been approved as a licensed foster parent.

Public Education Costs

Minnesota charges for public education:

• No

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

• Other: The local county agency may charge the sending state for specialized services if the services required for the child are not provided under that child's medical coverage.

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

• Other: The local county agency may charge the sending state for specialized services if the services required for the child are not provided under that child's medical coverage

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

FINANCIAL PLANS

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

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

• 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

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

• 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.

• No

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:

• No waiting period

STATE MEDICAL INSURANCE/COVERAGE

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

• Yes: MN ICPC office will work with the local sending agency to determine the most appropraite medical coverage for the child in the receiving state.

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

• Yes

PAYMENTS MADE

TANF Payments

Adoption assistance payments begin:

• After the adoption is finalized.

Foster Care Payments

• Yes - Minnesota issues a bulletin titled “Foster Care Maintenance and DOC Rates”. The most recent bulletin can be located at http://www.dhs.state.mn.us, the number is 09-32-16.

Special Education Payments

• No

Daycare Payments

• No

Kinship Program

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: IV-E documentation should be submitted

Foster Care

RATES (Foster Care)

Foster care rate paid at:

• Negotiable

Minnesota foster care rates:

REQUIREMENTS (Foster Care)

Foster Care Resource Requirements:

Foster care licensing requirements can be found in Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.3000 through 2960.3340

Training (Education and Training)

• Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, FOSTER PARENT TRAINING

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

Types of Home Studies

Minnesota conducts the following types of home studies:

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

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

• No

Minnesota considers a home study as current/valid for:

• 1 year

Private Contract Services - Home Study

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

• No

As the Receiving State, Minnesota 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, Minnesota 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.

• Other: The home study would be requested and reviewed. Ultimately it would be up to the receiving county and local agency to determine whether it meets the requirements established by Minnesota Laws and Rules.

Adoptive Home Studies

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:

• No

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, Minnesota requires a home study evaluation before reunification.

• This may be required depending on the type, if any, of court involvement.

Non-Custodial Parents

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

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

MN ICPC uses the definition of relative defined in Minnesota Statute 260.007 subd. 27  "Relative" means a person related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption; the legal parent, guardian, or custodian of the child's siblings; or an individual who is an important friend of the child or of the child's parent or custodian, including an individual with whom the child has resided or had significant contact or who has a significant relationship to the child or the child's parent or custodian.

Relatives must be licensed:

• Yes

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Minnesota 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)
• 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)
• Godmother, Godfather
• Other

MN ICPC uses the definition of relative defined in Minnesota Statute 260.007 subd. 27 "Relative" means a person related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption; the legal parent, guardian, or custodian of the child's siblings; or an individual who is an important friend of the child or of the child's parent or custodian, including an individual with whom the child has resided or had significant contact or who has a significant relationship to the child or the child's parent or custodian.

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

Minnesota 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 education training):

• Other: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

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

• Other: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

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: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

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

• Other: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

Minnesota 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

Minnesota requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

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

Finterprints are used to conduct FBI checks on persons 18 and older for studies conducted in connection with child foster care and adoptions.
  County social service agencies and private child placing agencies provide finterprint cards (supplied by DHS which include the correct ORI and “reason fingerprinted) to the background study subject.  The subject is fingerprinted, generally at a local law enforcement agency, and returns the FP card to the county or private agency who sends the FP cards to DHS along with a request to conduct a background study.  DHS scans the fingerprint cards and sends an electronic image through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to the FBI.  The results of the FBI check are returned electronically to DHS.

The results are received from the FBI within 24 hours.  (Generally within an hour or two.)

The state record check (through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) is based on the background study subject’s name and date of birth.  It is not a fingerprint based check.  See below.

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Minnesota 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: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered

ICPC Processing And Data Collection

Minnesota conducts the following types of home studies:

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

ICPC Placement Checklists

Date of Receipt - Home Study

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

• Other

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

• No

Private Contract Services - Home Study

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

• No

Criminal Records Checks

Minnesota requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

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

Finterprints are used to conduct FBI checks on persons 18 and older for studies conducted in connection with child foster care and adoptions.
  County social service agencies and private child placing agencies provide finterprint cards (supplied by DHS which include the correct ORI and “reason fingerprinted) to the background study subject.  The subject is fingerprinted, generally at a local law enforcement agency, and returns the FP card to the county or private agency who sends the FP cards to DHS along with a request to conduct a background study.  DHS scans the fingerprint cards and sends an electronic image through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to the FBI.  The results of the FBI check are returned electronically to DHS.

The results are received from the FBI within 24 hours.  (Generally within an hour or two.)

The state record check (through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) is based on the background study subject’s name and date of birth.  It is not a fingerprint based check.  See below.

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

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

Mailing Process - Interstate Home Study

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

Wait/Processing Times

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 education training):

• Other: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

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

• Other: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

Wait Time for Criminal Records Checks

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: Not Offered
• 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:

• Other

  MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing the licensing process.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required.

• OtherTypically the initial foster care license is valid for one (1) year. After the first year the foster care license if valid for two (2) years.

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

• OtherLocal agencies develop and implement their own training curriculum while following the requirements set forth in Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070.

Wait Time for ICPC Decision

Data Collection

Minnesota collects, tracks and reports interstate data via:

• ICPC Access Database

Minnesota collects, tracks and reports interstate home studies via

• ICPC Access Database

Licensing/Certification/Approval

Licensing

Dual Licensing state:

• Yes

Minnesota 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

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

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

Minnesota resource training program is as follows:

• PRIDE (Parents Resource Information Development Education)

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

• Adoption
  OtherThis would be up to the local agency to determine if the completed training is compariable to their curriculum
• Foster Care
  OtherThis would be up to the local agency to determine if the completed training is compariable to their curriculum

Title IV-E documentation/verification required

• Yes: IV-E documentation should be submitted

Requirements (Licensing)

Licensing Requirements

• Foster care licensing requirements can be found in Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.3000 through 2960.3340

  MN will conduct Relative-Unlicensed home studies, but if it is approved and the child is placed; the resource will be required to start/complete the foster care licensing process.

Foster Care Placements

• No information provided

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

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

• Other

  MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing the licensing process.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required.

• OtherTypically the initial foster care license is valid for one (1) year. After the first year the foster care license if valid for two (2) years.

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

• OtherLocal agencies develop and implement their own training curriculum while following the requirements set forth in Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070.

Parent Studies

Minnesota conducts the following types of home studies:

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

Custodial Parent Evaluated Per Reunification

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

• This may be required depending on the type, if any, of court involvement.

Non-Custodial Parents

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

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

Minnesota 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)

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: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

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

• Other: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

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

• Other

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

Criminal Records Checks

Minnesota requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

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

Finterprints are used to conduct FBI checks on persons 18 and older for studies conducted in connection with child foster care and adoptions.
  County social service agencies and private child placing agencies provide finterprint cards (supplied by DHS which include the correct ORI and “reason fingerprinted) to the background study subject.  The subject is fingerprinted, generally at a local law enforcement agency, and returns the FP card to the county or private agency who sends the FP cards to DHS along with a request to conduct a background study.  DHS scans the fingerprint cards and sends an electronic image through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to the FBI.  The results of the FBI check are returned electronically to DHS.

The results are received from the FBI within 24 hours.  (Generally within an hour or two.)

The state record check (through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) is based on the background study subject’s name and date of birth.  It is not a fingerprint based check.  See below.

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Minnesota 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: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered

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: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Minnesota 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

All federal and state background study results are reviewed by DHS staff. The results of the background study (including non-disqualifying criminal and/or maltreatment information) are provided to the county or private child placing agency.

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

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

• Other

  MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing the licensing process.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required.

• OtherTypically the initial foster care license is valid for one (1) year. After the first year the foster care license if valid for two (2) years.

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

• OtherLocal agencies develop and implement their own training curriculum while following the requirements set forth in Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070.

Relative Placements

Minnesota conducts the following types of home studies:

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

Relative Home Study

Define Relative

MN ICPC uses the definition of relative defined in Minnesota Statute 260.007 subd. 27  "Relative" means a person related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption; the legal parent, guardian, or custodian of the child's siblings; or an individual who is an important friend of the child or of the child's parent or custodian, including an individual with whom the child has resided or had significant contact or who has a significant relationship to the child or the child's parent or custodian.

Relatives must be licensed:

• Yes

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Minnesota 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)
• 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)
• Godmother, Godfather
• Other

MN ICPC uses the definition of relative defined in Minnesota Statute 260.007 subd. 27 "Relative" means a person related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption; the legal parent, guardian, or custodian of the child's siblings; or an individual who is an important friend of the child or of the child's parent or custodian, including an individual with whom the child has resided or had significant contact or who has a significant relationship to the child or the child's parent or custodian.

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

Minnesota 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)

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: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

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

• Other: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

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

• Other

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

Criminal Records Checks

Minnesota requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

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

Finterprints are used to conduct FBI checks on persons 18 and older for studies conducted in connection with child foster care and adoptions.
  County social service agencies and private child placing agencies provide finterprint cards (supplied by DHS which include the correct ORI and “reason fingerprinted) to the background study subject.  The subject is fingerprinted, generally at a local law enforcement agency, and returns the FP card to the county or private agency who sends the FP cards to DHS along with a request to conduct a background study.  DHS scans the fingerprint cards and sends an electronic image through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to the FBI.  The results of the FBI check are returned electronically to DHS.

The results are received from the FBI within 24 hours.  (Generally within an hour or two.)

The state record check (through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) is based on the background study subject’s name and date of birth.  It is not a fingerprint based check.  See below.

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Minnesota 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: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered

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: MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing a home study.

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Minnesota 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

All federal and state background study results are reviewed by DHS staff. The results of the background study (including non-disqualifying criminal and/or maltreatment information) are provided to the county or private child placing agency.

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

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

• Other

  MN is unable to give an estimate as there are many factors when completing the licensing process.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required.

• OtherTypically the initial foster care license is valid for one (1) year. After the first year the foster care license if valid for two (2) years.

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

• OtherLocal agencies develop and implement their own training curriculum while following the requirements set forth in Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070.

Residential Treatment Centers/Facilities

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

• No

Residential Placements

Minnesota Rules, part Subp. 20. DEFINITIONS: Residential facility.

"Residential facility" means any group home, family foster home, or other publicly supported out-of-home residential facility, including any out-of-home residential facility licensed by the state, county, or other political subdivision, or any agency thereof, to provide foster care.

Supervisory Reports

Minnesota Requires face-to-face supervision:

• Once a month

Minnesota will provide supervision of an interstate placement:

• Until the ICPC case is closed

Minnesota Submits a supervisory report to the Sending State

• Other : At the frequency requested by the sending state.

Minnesota 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)

• Yes

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.

• Yes

Relative Home Study

Define Relative

MN ICPC uses the definition of relative defined in Minnesota Statute 260.007 subd. 27  "Relative" means a person related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption; the legal parent, guardian, or custodian of the child's siblings; or an individual who is an important friend of the child or of the child's parent or custodian, including an individual with whom the child has resided or had significant contact or who has a significant relationship to the child or the child's parent or custodian.

Relatives must be licensed:

• Yes

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Minnesota 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)
• 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)
• Godmother, Godfather
• Other

MN ICPC uses the definition of relative defined in Minnesota Statute 260.007 subd. 27 "Relative" means a person related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption; the legal parent, guardian, or custodian of the child's siblings; or an individual who is an important friend of the child or of the child's parent or custodian, including an individual with whom the child has resided or had significant contact or who has a significant relationship to the child or the child's parent or custodian.