Finding Permanent Homes for Adoptable Children - Pepperdine ...

Assign Specialized Workers
Another key to increase the effectiveness of the overall process is to use the tool of specialized labor. For
example, Sacramento County in California employs one individual to mange all ICPC placements. This
is a highly effective approach, as the element of uncertainty in the inherent complications diminishes
when familiarity with the ICPC process increases. The transaction costs between the sending and
receiving states will decrease with specialization, because fluency in the process will ultimately result in
the process taking less time. Without specialization, which is how the majority of ICPC states manage
the process now, many individuals handle adoptions generally, and each time they encounter a potential
ICPC case, re-familiarization with the process and a loss of valuable time for the children waiting in
foster care ensues. This produces a more inefficient outcome that is avoided by having only a few
individuals incur the initial high cost of learning this process. A higher volume of placements will be
completed at lower “costs” over time. If for some reason a particular agency does not have the manpower
in numbers to assign specialized ICPC staff, the installation of a point system is a viable solution as well,
as recommended by Susan Quash-Mah and Patti Colston of the I-JAC. This system will allow ICPC
cases to be “worth” more points when completing adoptions, because these cases do require more time
and administrative rigor. In other words, completing one ICPC case is equal to completing two intrastate
placements, and therefore there is an incentive to complete the more arduous ICPC cases.
Long-Term Goals and Actions
The long-term implementation strategy focuses on the revisions that face the formidable challenge being
subject to AAICPC and legislative approval and passage. These revisions require the greatest dedication
both through the hours of work and lobbying efforts involved, but they will occur concurrently with the
short-term revisions. The following discussion carries the assumption that the short-term implementation
strategy will successfully continue and supplement the success of the long-term strategy.
Revise The Language of the ICPC
The vague and at times ambiguous language of the ICPC promotes heterogeneity, both in the courts and
with the ICPC administration. There has been little alteration since its inception 30 years ago, implying
that throughout the entire framework the language of the compact is outdated and continues to be
interpreted regionally. Rather than requiring a national standard to remedy this problem, more specific
compact language will achieve the same goal, as room for interpretation will decrease.
The one area in greatest need for definition of language is the articulation of placements that reflect the
child’s best interest as the primary goal in the process. A standard perspective must to be maintained in
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