+ What does ICPC MEAN?

ICPC stands for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and is the set of rules that govern how children involved in a child welfare system in one state can be placed in a different state. You can learn more about the ICPC rules and process here: WWW.APHSA.ORG

+ What is a home study?

A home study is the screening of the home and life of a prospective caregiver prior to potential placement of a child. It entails a home visit, interviews with each household member, collateral contacts, contact with the sending state caseworker, completion of documentation, and child welfare and criminal background checks. The physical residence will be assessed for adequate space and safety. Information gathered during interviews will include a social history, covering topics including but not limited to one’s childhood experiences, educational and work history, physical and emotional health, substance use and criminal history, familial relationships and dynamics, and parenting. Home studies are child specific; thus, also to be assessed is one’s motivation for placement, relationship with and understanding of the needs of the referred child, and the ability and willingness to meet those needs. All the information gathered is used to prepare a home study report.

+ My home study is completed. What’s the next step in the process?

After completing the interview and gathering information from collateral contacts, the home study worker prepares the home study report for review by an agency supervisor. At times, submission of the completed report to the Illinois ICPC office can be delayed while we are awaiting background check results. Once the report is sent to the IL ICPC office with our recommendation for or against placement, the Illinois ICPC office makes the final determination regarding placement approval or not and forwards the report to the sending state. It is up to the sending state whether or not to place the child in a recommended placement. If a child is placed in your home, you will be assigned a courtesy supervision caseworker to monitor the placement and guide you through the process from placement to permanency. Contact Interstate Services Supervisor, Semah Shammas at 773.561.6196 ext. 227 or SemahS@kmetko.com as soon as you know if/when a child is being placed in your care.

+ Can I receive a copy of the home study report?

No. Our agency is not able to provide you with a copy of the report, as it is the property of IDCFS.

+ Why does the home study process take so long?

A request for a home study is initiated in the state in which the child currently lives. The request is then sent to the Illinois ICPC office, which in turn, sends the request to our agency. Delays can occur at various points in the referral process in the sending state or Illinois. Also, as noted previously, a home study entails several components. Preparation of a thorough report, as well as awaiting criminal background check results, takes time, as can scheduling the home visit and interviews, depending on the availability of all parties involved. The average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement is 60 days.

+ I am an Illinois licensed foster parent. Do I need to complete an Interstate home study?

Yes. While some of the information obtained during the Interstate home study process may be similar to that which was obtained during your licensure, additional information must also be gathered as interstate home studies are child specific.

+ Can a child welfare case that began in another state be transferred to Illinois, by an ICPC referral?

No. The state from which the child was sent will maintain custody of that child until the case is closed. If the child is placed with you, you will be assigned a courtesy supervision caseworker from our agency that will monitor the placement and report back to the sending state.

+ I have already had a background check completed and don’t want to provide information for a new one. Why do I have to?

While you may have had a background check completed in Illinois for another purpose, it does not suffice for the purpose of ICPC child welfare placement. Background checks are required for every household member age 13 and up. Though you can choose not to provide your information, we will not be able to recommend placement without conducting background checks. We take great care in protecting your confidential information.

+ My home study was denied. What can I do?

Reasons for denial vary on a case-by-case basis. You can contact the home study worker who completed the home study and/or call the agency to speak to the supervisor who reviewed the home study. Either person can discuss the recommendation with you. In addition, you can contact the sending state worker to see what your options are.

+ If the referred child is placed, what benefits will I be eligible for? Where can I get financial help or resources?

Typically, children qualify for medical benefits through Illinois Medicaid. Other available benefits in Illinois, such as, daycare assistance, SNAP, and TANF, vary based on a number of factors. In addition, some states may provide foster care board payments, if you become licensed as a foster parent, one-time assistance, or kinship care payments. Once the child is placed, your assigned courtesy supervision worker can provide some guidance regarding potential Illinois benefits. Do not apply for any benefits on your own, as there are specific processes that must be followed for Interstate placement cases. If you would like to speak to someone about benefits options prior to placement, you can contact Interstate Services Supervisor, Semah Shammas at 773.561.6196 ext. 227 or SemahS@kmetko.com.

+ My home study is approved. How long until placement?

While the state of Illinois may approve an ICPC home study, whether or not placement occurs is at the discretion of the referring state. You can contact the referring state caseworker for information regarding potential placement. A parent or relative home study is only valid for 6 months from the date of approval.

+ The child was placed in my care. What’s the next step?

Once a child is placed in your case, please contact Interstate Services Supervisor, Semah Shammas at 773.561.6196 ext.227. Once Semah is notified that placement has occurred, she will follow up with the Illinois ICPC office and sending state for the 100B referral form needed to open for supervision services. It is imperative that the 100B form (Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Report on Child’s Placement Status) be signed by the sending state’s ICPC office and sent to the Illinois ICPC office as soon as it is determined that placement will occur. Once the 100B referral form is received, we will open a case and assign a supervision worker, who will then provide support and monthly monitoring of the placement.

+ How do I apply for Medicaid for an Interstate placed child?

Once the referred child is placed in your care, the first step in obtaining Medicaid for the child is to contact our agency at 773.561.6196. As noted above, receipt of the 100B form by the Illinois ICPC office from the sending state ICPC office is required to assign a courtesy supervision worker to your case. Your assigned supervision worker will either facilitate obtaining Medicaid or will provide you with guidance regarding the process. Please do not contact the Department of Human Services without speaking with your supervision worker first.

+ My home study was already completed, but the other state now wants me to be licensed? What do I do?

If a licensing request from the referring state has been made, a new home study will be completed. In addition, we will forward the licensing request to our licensing department. These processes may be done concurrently. You will be assigned a home study worker and a licensing representative from our agency, who will contact you regarding the next steps in the process.

+ What is Interstate (ICPC) Supervision?

Interstate Supervision is an agreement, based on the ICPC, for states to monitor the placement of children from another state placed with relatives, non-relatives, or parents in the receiving state.

+ What is involved in Interstate Supervision?

A supervision worker from our agency will meet with your family and the child individually at your home each month to discuss how the placement is going and provide support. We will direct you to necessary services, clarify the permanency goal, and report how the child is progressing in placement to the sending state.

+ What type of contact does my Illinois supervision worker have with the child’s worker and/or the sending state?

Our agency will have monthly contact with the sending state worker. Usually, your supervision worker will be in regular communication with the sending state worker to discuss the child/family’s needs, inquire about assistance from the sending state, and to discuss the permanency plan. We also provide written Quarterly Reports to the sending state that go through the Illinois and sending state ICPC offices.

+ Who makes planning decisions for the child?

Because the sending state has legal responsibility for the child, the sending state will make the final decision regarding permanency planning, financial assistance, travel, major medical procedures, and parent or sibling visitation. If supervision has concerns about the plan, we will share those with the Illinois ICPC office and the sending state worker.

+ Who is responsible for providing financial benefits and material assistance to the child?

While the child will receive Illinois Medicaid, the sending state has financial responsibility for the child. Some states and counties provide financial and material benefits for the child; some do not. Many times, qualifying for financial benefits requires your home to be an Illinois licensed foster home. You may be eligible for some Illinois public benefits because you are caring for a relative and/or based on your income. Your supervision worker can help you determine which benefits you may be eligible for, either through the sending state or Illinois.

+ Will the child and my family receive the same services that children in the care of Illinois DCFS receive?

The child in your care is a youth in care of the sending state. Our agency will link you to community services available to Illinois residents, and advocate on your behalf for any resources available through the State of Illinois or the sending state.

+ How can I/should I discipline the child in my care?

All states prohibit the use of corporal punishment when disciplining children in foster care. Please talk with your supervision worker about behavioral challenges, discipline techniques, and available resources to assist in positive behavior management. Children who have experienced trauma will exhibit emotional and behavioral responses, which can be severe. These events can be very challenging for caregivers to address in a helpful way. Good news is there are ways to respond that make the situation better for you and allow the child to feel safe and heard. Professional support from a trained therapist familiar with child behavioral matters will be vital. Our staff can refer you to a specialist.

Prohibited methods of discipline:

• Any form of physical punishment including the use of a hand,switch, belt, paddle, extension cord or other objects to strike a child.

• Confining the child in an area such as a closet, locked room, box or similar cubicle. “Time out” or isolation must be age appropriate and for a reasonable period of time.

• Withholding necessary food, rest, toilet use, clothing or entrance to the foster home.

• Mental or emotional cruelty, such as humiliating, shaming, threatening, making derogatory remarks about the child or the biological parents, verbally abusing or frightening the child. This includes threats to return the child to the sending state.

• Applying of any substance or causing a child to ingest any substance, which would cause physical pain or discomfort.

Positive forms of discipline:

• Offer praise or other recognition of positive behavior. For every time you correct a child, you must find four other positive ways to praise the child.

• Ignore minor negative attention-getting behaviors and/or redirect negative attention-getting behaviors.

• Use soft reprimands that express your displeasure with the child’s behavior and suggest what he/she needs to do to meet your expectations.

• Use “time outs” of appropriate length depending upon the age of the child.

• Use loss of privileges.

• Talk with the child to make sure they understand what they did wrong and what is expected. Discipline should assist the child in understanding his/her behavior and promoting self-control and independence. Harping on what they did wrong will only frustrate the child and reinforce the message she is bad or unworthy of love.

• Use time ins, by giving the child your undivided attention in a way that makes the child feel safe and is enjoyable to him/her.

• Get professional help for yourself in the form of a therapist who will validate your feelings and help you to adapt to the child’s needs. We can help you find one.

+ What if a child is acting aggressively or is out of control?

You should contact the CARES line at 1.800.345.9049. If appropriate, they will send Screening, Assessment and Support Services (SASS) to your home within 2 hours to assess the situation and make appropriate recommendations and referrals. The child needs to be in the home when SASS come to the home. If you have an immediate emergency, please call 911.

+ What if placement in my home is not working out and the child needs to return to the sending state?

Please communicate openly with your supervision worker on an ongoing basis to identify and address challenges as they arise. Occasionally, a child’s needs are greater than what a family can provide. If you feel that a child can no longer be appropriately served in your home, please notify your Kmetko supervision and sending state worker to request removal. You will need to continue to provide care for a reasonable amount of time while the sending state makes arrangements to pick up the child. We will help coordinate this process as much as possible, but Kmetko is unable to remove the child from your home or transport the child.

+ Where will our adoption be completed?

The adoption can be completed in Illinois or the sending state. That decision rests with the sending state.

+ What benefits/assistance will I receive through the adoption?

Regardless of where the adoption finalizes, the child may receive a subsidy (monthly payment) from the sending state based on eligibility requirements (disabilities, age, minority status, etc.). Information regarding a subsidy should be provided to you prior to the adoption. Additionally, the child may receive Illinois Medicaid (regardless of income) post adoption if the child is Title IV-E eligible, however, that determination and responsibility lies with the sending state. If eligible, the sending state needs to send the required paperwork through The Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA) in order to initiate Medicaid in Illinois after the adoption. If the child is not Title IV-E eligible, you may request extra funds be included in the adoption subsidy to cover future medical costs. Your Interstate Services Specialist can provide more details and advocate for your family during the adoption process.

+ What if the permanency goal is Guardianship?

You will be awarded legal guardianship of the child(ren) through the court in the sending state. A subsidy may be available, based on the sending state’s programs and eligibility requirements. If you receive a subsidy from the sending state, you may be eligible to continue to receive Medicaid in Illinois regardless of your income. If you do not receive a subsidy, you will need to apply for income-based Illinois Medicaid on your own after the guardianship is finalized. Additionally, you may want to register the guardianship in Illinois court so that any future matters regarding the guardianship can be addressed in Illinois. Your Supervision worker can provide guidance on these topics.

+ How long does the foster care licensing process take?

The licensing process takes, on average, 3-6 months. Major factors that contribute to this are the time it takes for you to complete and return required documentation, the type of training you will need to complete, how fast background clearances are processed by DCFS, and if you have criminal convictions. Your licensing representative will work with you to ensure the process is completed in a timely manner.

+ Do I have to be fingerprinted again, even if I was previously printed for work?

For the licensing process, every member of the home age 18 and older needs to be fingerprinted so that a background check can be completed. There are instances where a member of the household was previously printed by DCFS (e.g., they work in child welfare, they work in a day care center, etc.). Your licensing representative will perform a search and inform you which members of your household will need to be fingerprinted.

+ I am related to the child being placed in my home. Do I need to be licensed?

This will be determined by the sending state. Most states require a home to be licensed to receive a monthly stipend. If you have questions about this, you should follow up with the worker in the sending state to determine their requirements.

+ How can I attend foster parent training if I work?

DCFS offers various training options including in-class and online training. In-class trainings are mostly held in the evenings and on Saturdays. There are also day options depending on the location. Please be advised that these classes are limited due to COVID restrictions. Online options are available for all required trainings. Access to a computer (or tablet) and some basic computer knowledge is required. Your licensing representative will work with you to determine the training option that best fits your schedule and needs

+ I am currently licensed through another agency. Do I have to transfer my license to Kmetko and Associates?

No, you do not have to transfer your license to accept placement of an interstate case. You will, however, need to inform your current licensing representative that you are seeking placement and work with them to ensure that your home will remain in compliance with licensing standards.

+ Once I am licensed, how often will I have to meet with the licensing representative?

The licensing representative will conduct a monitoring visit every six months. Also, whenever there is a major change (i.e., a change in address or a new entity needs to be added to the license) or a licensing complaint, additional visits will be conducted.

+ I believe I’ve been treated unfairly during the Interstate home study or supervision process. What can I do?

If you believe the state that has custody of the child has behaved inappropriately, you can contact the sending state to discuss the matter. You may need to ask to speak with the worker’s supervisor to seek resolution.

If you believe Kmetko staff or a consultant has behaved inappropriately, you are asked to first speak with the individual you have a concern with and attempt to resolve the situation. If this is not a reasonable option or if after doing so, you believe the situation has not been resolved, you can ask to speak with the person’s supervisor. In addition to this, the agency sends a client satisfaction survey at different stages in the home study/supervision process. You can express your feelings via this informal method.

If after discussing the matter with the supervisor, you are not satisfied, you may lodge a formal complaint in writing. This letter of complaint should detail your concerns, as well as the steps you have taken to resolve the issue. Again, please be as detailed as possible about the matter and ensure that the letter of complaint includes your written signature. The agency will investigate the situation, come to a conclusion, and respond to you. All information related to formal complaints will be kept on file and shared with DCFS as required.

Some aspects of Interstate cases are not grounds for formal complaint. Issues related to the sending state’s decision to not place a child after an approved home study is a matter best addressed with the sending state’s court. A home/adoption study recommendation that is based on the staff/consultant’s professional opinion is typically not grounds for a complaint.

+ My case is closed but I need assistance. Who can I call?

If you previously had an open case with Kmetko and Associates and need assistance, call us at 773.561.6196. Our staff will work to assist you and/or refer you to another entity that can help.