Congress enacted the Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) in 1996 and modified it with Interethnic Adoption Provisions (IEP) in 1997. The intent is:
Race or color or national origin may not be used as the basis for any denial of placement, nor may such factors be used as a reason to delay or deny any foster or adoptive placement.
Kansas is required to provide for the diligent recruitment of potential foster and adoptive families that reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of children in the state for whom foster and adoptive homes are needed.
It is the policy of the Department not to delay the placement of any child for adoption or foster care based on race, color or national origin of the adoptive parent, foster parent, or the child. The Department will not deny any person the opportunity to become an adoptive or foster parent on the basis of race, color or national origin. This means that the Department cannot delay the placement of a child searching for a family of the same racial or ethnic background when there are families of other racial or ethnic background available who otherwise would be appropriate for the child and would meet the child's social, emotional, and physical needs.
Non-compliance to this act constitutes a violation of the Civil Rights Act.
The Indian Child Welfare Act supersedes the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act/Interethnic Placement Act.