What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) is a federal law passed in 1997 in the United States. Its aim is to promote the safety, permanence, and well-being of children who have been abused or neglected and to expedite permanency for such children. In California, ASFA establishes procedures for the termination of parental rights when a parent is found to have abused or neglected a child. It also requires states to make reasonable efforts to place children in the care of a loving family either through reunification with the birth family or through adoption. Furthermore, ASFA sets out strict timelines to increase the likelihood that a child is placed in a safe and permanent home. States are required to make reasonable efforts to place children in permanent homes within 15 months of their placement in foster care. In addition, ASFA requires states to make good faith efforts to establish permanent homes for children dismissed from foster care within 6 months of dismissal. In addition, ASFA requires states to provide adoption incentives to encourage adoption and to provide services to adoptive families in order to promote successful adoptions without delay. These incentives may include priority placement of children in foster care, financial payments or assistance, and post-adoption services. Overall, ASFA is meant to ensure the safety, permanence, and well-being of children in California by providing them with loving, stable homes through reunification with their birth families or through adoption.

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What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

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