25.6 ICPC Regulation 7 Or Priority Placements
Regulation 7 referrals, commonly referred to as “Priority” referrals, were initiated to address the problem of frequent delays in completing home studies on a select group of individuals as identified in Article VIII of the Compact. A Regulation 7 referral cannot be court ordered if foster care licensing or an adoptive study is being requested, or if the child is already residing in the recipient’s home.
25.6.1 Missouri As The Sending State:
- The CSW should determine if the child(ren) qualifies for a priority request.
- The proposed placement must belong to a class of persons who, under Article VIII of the Compact, would be exempt if there were no court involvement, is specifically addressed in the accompanying court order and meets one of the following criteria:
The proposed placement recipient is a relative (as defined in RSMo 210.620 Article VIII) of the child(ren), and
- The child(ren) is under 2 years of age; or
- The child(ren) is in an emergency placement requiring the child to be moved within 30 days; or
- The child(ren) has spent a substantial amount of time in the home of the proposed placement recipient.
- Whenever a Juvenile court, upon request from the Children’s Division, or on its own authority, determines that a priority placement is necessary, the court shall sign an order recognizing the findings that the placement resource is within the scope of the Compact and meets one of the above criteria. The order must be sent to the local CD office within two (2) business days.
- Within three (3) business days of receipt of the court order the CSW must complete an ICPC referral packet and submit it to the ICPC unit in Central Office by overnight express mail. For information on how to make an ICPC referral, see Section 4 Chapter 25.3.1 Making an ICPC Referral.
NOTE: The Sending State Priority Home Study Request, ICPC 101, for priority referrals must be included and placed on top of the referral packet.
- Within a timeframe not to exceed two (2) business days after receipt of the ICPC priority referral, the ICPC unit in Central Office will submit the priority referral packet to the receiving state’s ICPC office by overnight express mail.
- The receiving state’s ICPC unit will make a determination within (2) business days whether additional documentation is needed before forwarding for completion. Once assigned to the receiving state’s local office, they have 20 business days to complete the home study and make a placement recommendation. If there are extraordinary circumstances making it impossible to comply with the timeframes, the receiving state’s ICPC office shall notify the sending state’s ICPC unit of their inability to comply and provide a date for completion.
- Upon receipt of the home study and the Placement Request, ICPC 100-A, from the receiving state’s ICPC office, Central Office ICPC unit will notify the CSW of the placement decision. The CSW will notify the court immediately of the placement decision.
- The CSW and court should determine a date for the child(ren) to be placed with the ICPC approved resource. The CSW should complete the Child Placement Status Report, ICPC 100-B, to inform the receiving state that the child was placed in their state in order for services to begin.
25.6.2 Missouri As The Receiving State:
- The MO Central Office ICPC unit will receive the priority referral from the sending state’s ICPC unit.
- Within two (2) business days after receipt, the ICPC unit will determine if the referral meets the definition of “priority placement” and all required
documents are included. The referral will then be forwarded to the local
CD office by overnight express mail. - Upon receiving the referral from the Central Office unit, the assigned CSW should telephone (if possible) the proposed placement resource and set up an appointment for a face-to-face contact, to include at least one home visit.
- Within five (5) business days the assigned CSW will make a home visit to the placement resource.
- The CSW should complete the Receiving State’s Priority Home Study, ICPC-102, or a narrative home study, within twenty (20) working days after being assigned to the local county office by the ICPC unit in Central Office. The completed ICPC-102 or home study must contain FBI fingerprint results, as well as, a recommendation for/against the placement.
- The CSW should send the original and two (2) copies of the ICPC-102 or the narrative home study by overnight express mail to the ICPC unit in Central Office.
- Within two (2) business days the ICPC unit will make a decision for oragainst the placement and forward the ICPC-102, or home study, by overnight express mail to the sending state’s ICPC office.
- The sending state can then place the child with the approved ICPC placement resource.
- The sending state will notify the ICPC unit in Central Office via the Child Placement Status Report, ICPC-100-B, of any changes, such as a disruption, closure or termination of the compact.