What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) is an important federal law that helps ensure the safety and well-being of children in the foster care system. Passed in 1997, ASFA is designed to strengthen the adoption process, protect children and reunify families when possible. In Arizona, ASFA requires the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to make prompt decisions about the placement of children in foster care, with a goal of finding a safe and permanent home for these children. This includes making sure children are placed in homes that are safe and appropriate, and that foster families are recruited and supported. ASFA also encourages adoption when reunification attempts are unsuccessful. It helps to ensure that the rights of birth parents are respected while still ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in the foster care system. This includes each state having an Adoption Division that provides support and resources to birth parents, adoptive families, and foster families. In addition, ASFA requires states to place children in foster care for at least 15 of the past 22 months, or to make reasonable efforts to return them home. If reunification attempts fail, ASFA requires states to move forward with the adoption process in order to provide the child with a permanent home. This helps to ensure that children in the foster care system have the opportunity to be adopted when reunification is not possible.

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What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

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