18 Miss. Code. R. 6-1-H-I
The Mississippi Department of Human Services will hereinafter be known as "MDHS" and its Division of Family and Children's Services hereinafter will be known as "DFCS".
The need for common rules governing the interstate movement of children was recognized in the 1950s when a group of social service administrators and children's advocates identified barriers for placing children out-of-state for adoption and foster care. Although there were some federal statutes that regulated interstate movement, they did not provide sufficient and consistent protections for children moved between states. The group found that a sending state could not compel the receiving state to provide protection or support services for a child nor could a receiving state compel a sending state to remain financially responsible for the child.
In response to this group's findings, Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC, also known as the Compact) was drafted and first signed in 1960. ICPC is not a federal law but is a contractual agreement among the Member States. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands are members of the ICPC. However, it is open to joinder by all U.S. territories and possessions as is, with Congressional consent, Canada and any/all of its provinces.
Mississippi's ICPC laws begin at MISS. CODE ANN. § 43-18-1. These laws were implemented to ensure protection and services to children who are placed across state lines for foster care or as a preliminary step to an adoption.
18 Miss. Code. R. 6-1-H-I