Adoption and Kinship

Northstar Care for Children helps more children grow up in safe and permanent homes by consolidating and simplifying the administration of foster and adoption assistance programs to support families caring for children. More information can be found can be found on the department's Northstar Adoption Assistance Program webpage and the Northstar Care for Children page in PartnerLink.

The Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA) was established in 1986 to safeguard and protect the interstate interests of children covered by an adoption assistance agreement when they move or are adopted across state lines. ICAMA is an agreement between and among its member states that enables them to coordinate the provision of medical benefits and services to children receiving adoption assistance in interstate cases. For further information, visit the website of the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance.

A transfer of permanent legal and physical custody (TPLPC) of a child to a relative is the preferred permanency option for children in foster care who cannot be safely or timely reunified with their parents and whose best interests are not served by adoption. In a TPLPC, children’s parents retain parental rights and their status as parent, but all decision-making authority, as well as responsibility for care, education, protection, and control of a child, is permanently transferred to a relative custodian. Relative custodians may not return children for whom they have accepted a TPLPC to their parents without court approval and notice to the responsible county or tribal agency. Northstar Kinship Assistance is a benefit available to support eligible children leaving foster care to live permanently with relatives via this placement. For more information see:

• The department's Northstar Kinship Assistance Program webpage
• Transfer of Permanent Legal and Physical Custody (TPLPC) Process Checklist for Children in County Foster Care, DHS-6978 (PDF)
• Finding Permanency for Children in Foster Care: Transfer of Permanent Legal and Physical Custody to a Relative, DHS-7591 (PDF)

For policy and practice guidance, see Policy on Foster Care and Adoption Placement Decisions for Children Under Guardianship of the Commissioner and the Policy on Sibling Placement, Separation, Visitation and Contact, webpages. 

Enacted by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children ensures protection and services for children who are placed across state lines in foster care, adoption, parental, relative or residential placements. It establishes orderly procedures for the interstate placement of children and fixes responsibility for those involved in placing children. For more information, review Minnesota Statutes 260.851, Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children or the American Public Human Services Association website. These documents and PartnerLink webpages also contain helpful information.

• Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
• Guide to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
• Regulation Number 7 – Expedited Placement Decision
• Recommended Time Lines for Placements
• Placement Type Checklist
• Finding Permanency for Children in Foster Care: Transfer of Permanent Legal and Physical Custody to a Relative DHS-7591 (PDF)

For more information, contact mn.icpc@state.mn.us  or call 651-431-4727.

The Adoption Process Checklist for Children Under Guardianship of the Commissioner, DHS-6542 (PDF) is intended to help social workers and others with the adoption process for children under guardianship. More information is on PartnerLink's Adoption and Guardianship webpage

The department administers a statewide adoption email listserv for county and private agency social workers who facilitate adoptions of children under guardianship of the commissioner. Membership in the adoption group email list is limited to those granted access by the department. A social worker may recruit for an appropriate adoptive parent for a child by sending a description of a child, and photo if available, on the listserv. Employees at private child-placing agencies are asked to complete the Application for Private Adoption Agency Staff to Request Membership on the Minnesota Adoption Email Listserv DHS-6569 (PDF). For more information contact. Contracts.Adoption.DCYF@state.mn.us.

The department, county and tribal social services agencies, and private child-placing agencies must provide reasonable assistance to adopted youth age 19 and older, birth parents, and adoptive parents of minor children who are asking about information related to social and medical histories, genetic siblings, birth parent and relative searches, health information, and original birth records. For more information, refer to the Practice Guide for Post Adoption Search Services, DHS-4701 (PDF).

The department contracts with Foster Adopt Minnesota to administer the State Adoption Exchange, assisting prospective adoptive families and caseworkers in finding children in foster care who need permanent, loving homes through adoption. For more information, visit www.mnadopt.org, or email info@mnadopt.org.

The Benefits Information Portal is an online tool for adoptive and kinship families to access information about their benefits and submit reimbursement requests.

The department contracts with private child-placing agencies to provide adoption and adoption-related services to children under state guardianship or tribal jurisdiction. Five private agencies work closely with county and tribal social service agencies to place children with adoptive families or concurrent foster families. These partnerships maximize the strengths and resources of private agencies, and county and tribal social service agencies to ensure that children are placed in permanent homes, and that they and their families receive the support they need.

Purchase of Service Agreements are child-specific placement services agreements between counties, agencies and the department. A child must be under state guardianship and have an Adoption Placement Agreement. Purchase of Service Agreements cannot exceed $16,000 per child per placement.

For more information, contact Contracts.Adoption.DCYF@state.mn.us.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services contracts with agencies to provide services that help families support and care for children and youth who have been adopted or are in foster placements or kinship care. Permanency support services for adoptive, foster and kinship families DHS-4925 (PDF) provides an overview and contact information about these efforts.