What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) is a federal law enacted in 1997 to address issues related to adoption and child welfare throughout the United States, including Oklahoma. ASFA’s goal is to reduce delays in the adoption process and to quickly place children in safe and permanent homes. ASFA sets timelines for how quickly social services must work to identify permanent placements for children in foster care. If birth parents are unable to provide a safe environment for their child, ASFA requires that the child is immediately placed in a safe and permanent home. ASFA also makes it easier for states, including Oklahoma, to terminate the rights of birth parents who are unable to provide a safe and healthy environment for their child. ASFA encourages states to work with birth parents and provide services to help them maintain their parental rights if possible. Additionally, ASFA offers incentives to prospective adoptive parents to help defray the costs associated with adoption, making it more accessible to a wider range of families. To further support families, ASFA also provides post-adoption services to help families adjust to their new situation. ASFA has changed the way child welfare and adoption is handled in Oklahoma. Through ASFA, prospective adoptive parents have the opportunity to provide a loving home for a foster child and birth parents have the opportunity to receive the support and services they need to maintain their parental rights.

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What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

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