Missouri Parental Placements
Missouri conducts the following types of home studies:
- Relative Care
- Foster Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Parent Care
- Foster- Adopt
- Adoption
- Other
Kinship -Kinship is defined as: A person who is non-related by blood, marriage or adoption who has a close relationship with the child or child’s family (godparents, neighbors, teachers, close family friends, and fellow church members) or a person who has a close relationship with the child or child’s family and is related to the child by blood or affinity beyond the third degree.
Custodial Parent - Reunification
If child has been removed from the parent, Missouri requires a home study evaluation before reunification:
Non-Custodial Parents
Placements with non-custodial parents are not subject to the ICPC if:
The court does not have evidence before them that the parent is unacceptable, the court does not request any information from the receiving state, and the court dismiss jurisdiction before the child leaves Missouri.
Proof of Paternity Required for Placement with Paternal Relative:
- Yes: Proof of paternity documentation is: paternity test, or court order acknowledging paternity, or listed on birth certificate
Regulation 7 Priority Placement
Missouri performs priority placements:
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):
Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):
- Other: Children's Division can not release a home study unless the criminal/FBI checks are completed
Missouri determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:
- Date of the 100A
- Date stamped in the ICPC Office.
Mailing Process - Interstate Home Study
Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study:
|
Regular Mail |
Express Mail |
Overnight Mail |
Electronic Mail |
| Send request for a home study to Receiving State |
y |
|
|
|
| Send home study request to Local office |
y |
|
|
|
| Send home study report to Sending State |
y |
|
|
|
Criminal Records Checks
Missouri requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:
- Foster Care
- Relative Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Foster-Adopt
- Adoption
- Parent
Missouri Children’s Division requires unlicensed relatives and parents to pay for their own FBI checks.
Types of Checks (Criminal & Abuse Neglect Registry)
Missouri requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks:
Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR)
|
Federal |
State |
Local |
ANR |
NR |
| Foster Care |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Relative |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Relative Foster Care |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Adoption |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Foster-Adopt |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Parent |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
Wait Time for Criminal Records Checks
Wait time for fingerprint results are:
Live Scan or other technology
- State: 8-14 days
- Local/County: 8-14 days
Manually - Fingerprint Card
- State: 15-30 days
- Local/County: 15-30 days
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):
Verification of Criminal Records Results
- Signature verifying background check completed
Wait Time - (License/Certification/Approval - Education and Training)
Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:
Length of time a license is valid before renewal required:
- 2 years2 years - ICPC requires an update if the ICPC approval is over 6 months old
Missouri offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved:
- Other: As needed in specific areas of the state
