What is the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance?

The Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance, also known as ICAMA, is an agreement between states intended to standardize adoption and foster care in the United States. This agreement was developed in 1995 and is currently in place in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. In Delaware, ICAMA outlines the responsibilities of all states involved in the adoption process. It includes provisions that make it easier for potential adoptive parents and foster care providers to move across state lines to bring home their adopted or fostered children. It also requires states, such as Delaware, to cooperate in ensuring that children in their care receive appropriate medical and financial support. The Compact also outlines the procedures for interstate adoptions. In order for a child to be adopted in Delaware, the prospective adoptive parents must first initiate the process in the child’s home state. Once this is done, the home state will notify the recipient state, in this case Delaware, that an adoption is pending. The final step is for the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families to review the adoption application and approve it. The Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance is an important agreement that ensures safety and protection for children as they are moved across state lines for adoption or foster care. By having this agreement in place, Delaware and other states can ensure that all children receive the support they need as they join their new families.

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