What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) is a federal law that was passed in 1997. It is designed to promote the safety and well-being of children in foster care by providing states with incentives to speed up the adoption of children in foster care. ASFA requires states to make “reasonable efforts” to place children with their relatives or close family friends, and if this is not possible, states must make diligent efforts to place the children up for adoption. In Delaware, ASFA requires that a child who has been in foster care for 15 of the previous 22 months must be placed for adoption or a permanent legal placement. In certain circumstances, it is possible for a judge to waive this requirement, such as if the child has a special connection with his or her foster parents. Additionally, the law also requires that states provide services to the families of children in foster care. These services include counseling, vocational training, health care, and even financial assistance. ASFA also requires states to review cases involving children in foster care at least every six months. This is to ensure that the child is in a safe and permanent home and is receiving the services and support needed to help them succeed in life. Overall, the Adoption and Safe Families Act has been very successful in helping children in foster care find safe, loving, and permanent homes. It has helped reduce the amount of time a child is in foster care and also provides support services to families and children in need.

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What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

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