Inter-Jurisdictional Placements: What is the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children?

Jan 25, 2024 | Knowledge Base, Subscribers Only

State and municipal Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies tend to be extremely territorial. In states where local operations are conducted at the county level, even individual counties act very territorial toward their neighbors when it comes to jurisdiction. This becomes a problem when placement is at issue. Let’s say your child is placed in foster care and a suitable kinship placement has been identified, but this placement resides in another state, where the removing agency does not have jurisdiction…what happens? Is a child only allowed access to resources within the borders of a state CPS agency?

This is where the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) comes into play. A burdensome, bureaucratic agreement among the states and Washington, D.C. intended to govern the rules of interstate placements of children in the custody of CPS or other governmental agencies, ICPC’s articles and regulations are the gospel CPS and the courts refer to when placements (including foster care, kinship care and adoption) transcend state lines.

Because most of the laws and regulations that govern the operation of the child welfare system are left to the states, interstate placements pose a problem: different states with different laws and policies may contradict one another. Not only that, states don’t have jurisdiction over other states. Therefore, ICPC is meant to make interstate placements easier when necessary.

For example, a known family member a child knows well in a nearby state may make a better fit as placement than foster care. A state may also not have enough foster parents or a residential placement may be required and the best fit may not be an intrastate placement. ICPC enables such placement to occur. That being said, states tend to be territorial and do not rush to make interstate placements. It’s always easier for the state to place children in their custody within their own jurisdiction. When ICPC is absolutely necessary to keep a child within the family, it is helpful.

When an interstate placement is recommended, the request is made to the ICPC compact administrator or their delegate. Following the policies set forth by the compact, the home state contacts the receiving state and sends the required paperwork. The receiving state reviews the request and can either approve or reject the request. If the request is approved, the placement can occur. The court in the home state will retain authority over the case, but any follow-up visits will be delegated to the receiving state, as they have jurisdiction. The cooperative arrangement will continue until the case is closed, the child is adopted or the child returns to the home state.

At Heartwork Defense, we only recommend pursuing out-of-state placement if your child has been remanded to the temporary custody of Child Protective Services (CPS) by the court and the out-of-state placement is a preferred family member without a suitable in-state alternative. The more distance there is between you and the placement, the more difficult consistent visitation may be. If your child has been involuntarily placed out of state and there’s an issue, we’ve compiled a list below of all ICPC personnel and their contact information by state. Please keep in mind that California, Colorado and Ohio further break down ICPC personnel by county, so you may be redirected if you start at the state level. Here’s the list:

Updated ICPC State Contacts List (Current as of June 2025)

Alabama

Alaska

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: PO Box 110630, Juneau, AK 99811-0630
    • Fax: 907-465-2061
  • Personnel:
    • Kim Guay
    • Barbara Cosolito
    • Lisa Marx
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Social Services Program Coordinator
      • Email: Lisa.Marx@alaska.gov
      • Phone: 907-465-2105
    • Samantha Brown

Arizona

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: 3003 N. Central Ave. 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85012
    • Fax: 833-889-7317
  • Personnel:
    • David Minko
    • Cari Berg
      • Role: Parent/Foster/Relative/Public Adoption, Oldest Child Surnames A-H
      • Email: Caroline.Berg@azdcs.gov
      • Phone: 602-329-5246
    • Julia Davis
      • Role: Parent/Foster/Relative/Public Adoption, Oldest Child Surnames I-P
      • Email: Julia.Davis@azdcs.gov
      • Phone: 602-255-3122
    • Lloyd Coulthurst

Arkansas

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: PO Box 1437, Slot S-567, Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
    • Fax: 501-682-8561
  • Personnel:

California

Colorado

  • General Contact Information:
  • Personnel:
    • Karen Sparacino
      • Role: Compact Administrator
      • Phone: 720-331-3326
    • Logan Ellett
      • Role: Compact Administrator
      • Phone: 720-245-1195
    • Lila Mutschelknaus
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator
      • Phone: 720-656-4126
    • Danna Gladen
      • Role: Lutheran Family Services – Rocky Mountain
      • Address: 1035 Osage Street, Suite #700 Denver, CO 80204
      • Email: Danna.Gladen@lfsrm.org
      • Phone: 303-922-3433 (W)
      • Cell: 303-446-7783

Connecticut

Delaware

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: 1825 Faulkland Road, Wilmington, DE 19805
    • Fax: 302-633-2517
  • Personnel:

District of Columbia

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: 200 I Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003
    • Fax: 202-727-3347
  • Personnel:
    • Tanya T. Trice
    • Michele Rosenberg
    • Regi Pappy Daniel
    • Ritu Atwal
    • Theresa Thompson
      • Role: Compact Specialist – Residential/OTI Private and Independent Adoption
      • Email: Theresa.Thompson@dc.gov
      • Phone: 202-727-3167
    • Jefferson Regis

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

  • General Contact Information:
    • Email: DCF.KSICPC@KS.GOV
    • Mailing Address: 555 S Kansas Avenue, 4th Floor, Topeka, KS 66603
    • Fax: 785-368-8159
  • Personnel:
    • Jessica Guthery
    • Nicole Jamison
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Case Last Names: L-Z
      • Email: Nicole.Jamison@ks.gov
      • Phone: 785-213-6847

Kentucky

  • General Contact Information:
    • Email: CHFS.Interstate@ky.gov
    • Mailing Address: 275 E Main Street, 3E-D, Frankfort, KY 40601
    • Fax: 502-564-5995
  • Personnel:

Louisiana

Maine

  • General Contact Information:
    • Email: me.icpc@maine.gov
    • Mailing Address: 2 Anthony Avenue, SHS #11, Augusta, ME
    • Fax: 207-287-6156
  • Personnel:

Maryland

Massachusetts

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: 600 Washington Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
    • Fax: 617-261-7435
  • Personnel:

Michigan

  • General Contact Information:
  • Personnel:
    • Compact Administrator
      • Role: Vacant
      • Phone: 517-241-9773
    • Matt Doolittle
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Case Last Names: Q-Z and ICWA Eligibility
      • Phone: 517-243-6216
    • Colin Parks
      • Role: ICPC Manager
      • Phone: 517-388-5125
    • Melissa Macias
      • Role: Consultant, Case Last Names: A-H
      • Phone: 517-243-6395
    • Chloe Silver
      • Role: Consultant, Case Last Names: I-P
      • Phone: 517-329-5988
    • Tiffany Wilson
      • Role: Administrative Support
      • Phone: 517-335-4256

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

  • General Contact Information:
    • Email: mticpc@mt.gov
    • Mailing Address: PO Box 8005, Helena, MT 59604
    • Fax: 406-841-2487
  • Personnel:
    • Theresa Becker
    • Lori Hedges
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Case Last Names: A-S and Private Adoptions
      • Email: Lhedges@mt.gov
      • Phone: 406-841-2417
    • Gena Geiss-Marton
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Case Last Names: T-Z and Residential Facilities
      • Email: Gena.geiss-marton@mt.gov
      • Phone: 406-841-2453
    • Nicole Grossberg

Nebraska

Nevada

  • General Contact Information:
    • Email: nvicpc@dcfs.nv.gov
    • Mailing Address: 4126 Technology Way, 3rd Floor, Carson City, NV 89706
  • Personnel:

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Department 325, Bismarck, ND 58505
    • Fax: 701-328-3538
  • Personnel:
    • Kyle Vorachek

Ohio

Oklahoma

  • General Contact Information:
    • Email: CWS.ICPC@okdhs.org
    • Mailing Address: PO Box 25352, Oklahoma City, OK 73125
    • Fax: 405-522-2433
  • Personnel:
    • Amber Hasler
    • Misty Pollard
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Foster/Relative/Parent/Adoption, Oldest Child’s Surname: A-F
      • Email: Misty.Pollard@okdhs.org
      • Phone: 580-453-1033
    • Brittan Rigney
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Foster/Relative/Parent/Adoption, Oldest Child’s Surname: G-K
      • Email: Brittan.Rigney@okdhs.org
      • Phone: 918-623-8279
    • Lora Adams
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Foster/Relative/Parent/Adoption, Oldest Child’s Surname: L-R
      • Email: Lora.Adams@okdhs.org
      • Phone: 405-394-0981
    • Nina Levingston
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Foster/Relative/Parent/Adoption, Oldest Child’s Surname: S-Z
      • Email: Nina.Levingston@okdhs.org
      • Phone: 405-684-3839
    • Shaji Poulo
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Private Adoption and Residential Care, Oldest Child’s Surname: A-K
      • Email: Shaji.Poulo@okdhs.org
      • Phone: 405-694-6791
    • Cheryl Castillo
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Private Adoption and Residential Care, Oldest Child’s Surname: L-Z
      • Email: Cheryl.Castillo@okdhs.org
      • Phone: 405-850-4670
    • Robin McKeown

Oregon

Pennsylvania

  • General Contact Information:
    • Email: RA-PA-ICPC@pa.gov
    • Note: All correspondence must be sent electronically.
    • Fax: 717-425-5562
  • Personnel:
    • Wendy Lautsbaugh
    • Amy Rickert
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Case Last Names: P-Z (No residential placements)
      • Email: Amrickert@pa.gov
      • Phone: 717-395-9469
    • Brittany Roberts
      • Role: Contact, Case Last Names: A-F (No residential placements)
      • Email: Brittarobe@pa.gov
      • Phone: 717-395-9470
    • Lauren Spadaccio
      • Role: Contact, Case Last Names: G-O (No residential placements)
      • Email: Lspadaccio@pa.gov
      • Phone: 717-395-9475
    • Olivia Basar
      • Role: Residential placements
      • Email: Obasar@pa.gov
      • Phone: 717-395-9473

Rhode Island

South Carolina

  • General Contact Information:
    • Email: SCICPC@dss.sc.gov
    • Mailing Address: PO Box 1520, ICPC Unit 5th Floor, Columbia, SC 29201
    • Fax: 803-898-7897
  • Personnel:
    • Michael Leach
    • Dawn Barton
    • Tara Williams
    • Onie Whitehead
      • Role: ICPC Program Coordinator, Foster/Relative Care for Low Country Counties
      • Email: Onie.Whitehead@dss.sc.gov
      • Phone: 803-898-4146
    • Sabrina Sanders
      • Role: ICPC Program Coordinator, Foster/Relative Care for Midlands Counties
      • Email: Sabrina.Sanders@dss.sc.gov
      • Phone: 803-898-7275
    • Charles Ezenwoke
    • Bobby Seepersaud
    • Sherre Henne
      • Role: ICPC Program Coordinator, All Residential Treatment and Private Adoptions, Public Adoptions for Low Country and Upstate Counties
      • Email: Sherre.Henne@dss.sc.gov
      • Phone: 803-898-7100
    • Ashley Evans
    • ICPC Coordinator
      • Adoptions for Midlands and Pee Dee Counties
      • VACANT – contact Sherre Henne

South Dakota

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: 700 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501-2291
    • Fax: 605-773-6834
  • Personnel:

Tennessee

  • General Contact Information:
    • Note: The email subject line should include the ICPC Specialist’s name and the content, e.g., “new referral,” “question,” “progress report,” etc.
    • Mailing Address: 9th Floor, UBS Tower, 315 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37243-1290
    • Fax: 615-432-6495
  • Personnel:
    • Margie Quin
    • Anna Richmond
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Public Agency Requests: AR, CA, CT, LA, ME, OK, ND, SD, WI, VI
      • Email: Anna.Richmond@tn.gov
      • Phone: 615-532-5593
    • Catechia R. Friend
      • Role: ICPC Program Specialist, Public Agency Requests: CO, GA, IN, MA, MT, NC, NY, MO, TX, VA, WV
      • Email: TNICPC.Ei-DCS@TN.gov
      • Phone: 615-532-6139
    • Billie Brantley
      • Role: ICPC Program Specialist, Public Agency Requests: HI, ID, IL, KS, KY, MD, NV, NH, NJ, NM, PA, RI, UT, VT, WA, All Independent/Private Adoptions
      • Phone: 615-253-1176
    • Trenekka Chaney
      • Role: ICPC Program Specialist, Public Agency Requests: AL, AK, AZ, DE, DC, IA, MI, MN, MS, NE, OH, OR, SC, WY
      • Phone: 615-532-5595
    • Kelley Patterson
      • Role: ICPC Program Specialist, Public Agency Requests: FL
      • Phone: 615-532-6190
    • Tamera Stamps
      • Role: ICPC Program Specialist, All Residentials
      • Phone: 615-532-5617

Texas

Utah

  • General Contact Information:
    • Email: dcfs_icpc@utah.gov
    • Mailing Address: 195 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
    • Fax: 801-538-3993
  • Personnel:
    • Amy Tafoya
    • Nikol Layton
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Outgoing Requests
      • Email: Nlayton@utah.gov
      • Phone: 801-589-3435
    • Laurie Fuhriman

Vermont

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: 280 State Drive, HC 1 North, Waterbury, VT 05671
  • Personnel:

Virgin Islands

  • General Contact Information:
  • Personnel:
    • Eavey-Monique
      • Role: Compact Administrator
      • Phone: 340-715-6906
    • Charrisse Hart
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator
      • Phone: 340-774-0930
      • Fax: 340-774-0082

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: 350 Capitol Street, Room 691, Charleston, WV 25301
    • Fax: 304-558-4194
  • Personnel:
    • Jeffrey M. Pack
    • Nicole Chapman
      • Role: Deputy Compact Administrator, Case Last Names: A-L
      • Email: Nicole.J.Chapman@wv.gov
      • Phone: 304-352-4500
      • Fax: 304-558-4563
    • Casey Perdue
    • Kasia McCants
      • Role: Administrative Assistant, All Residential requests (public and private) and Regulation 7 requests for P-Z
      • Email: Katarzyna.McCants@wisconsin.gov
      • Phone: 608-422-6922

Wisconsin

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: PO Box 8916, Madison, WI 53708-8916
  • Personnel:

Wyoming

  • General Contact Information:
    • Mailing Address: Hathaway Building, 3rd Floor, 2300 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002-0490
    • Fax: 307-777-3693
  • Personnel:
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