What is the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance?

The Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA) is an agreement between all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands that aids in interstate adoptions. The compact regulates the adoption process when an adoptive family lives in a different state than the adopted child. It helps families navigate various state laws and provides a set of rules that must be followed. When a family wishes to adopt a child from a different state, the process typically begins with the filing an adoption petition in the state where the family resides. After the petition is approved, ICAMA requires that the adoptive family must also comply with the laws of the state from which the child will be adopted. If those laws differ from the adoptive family’s state laws, then the family must abide by both sets of laws. In addition to aiding in interstate adoptions, ICAMA also provides medical assistance to certain adopted children and their families. Under the compact, the adopted child’s birth state must provide medical assistance for the adopted child, if eligible, for the first one to two years. After that, the state where the child resides will provide medical assistance. In summary, the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance is an agreement between the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands that aids in interstate adoptions and provides medical assistance to certain adopted children and their families. It helps families navigate various state laws, and ensures that all adopted children receive the medical assistance they need.

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What is the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance?

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