What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) is a federal law passed in 1997 that sets guidelines for state child welfare systems. It was designed to protect the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in foster care. ASFA requires states to move quickly to place children in permanent homes when it is determined that a child cannot safely return home. To that end, it sets timelines for when a case worker must file a petition to terminate parental rights and for when adoption must be finalized. It also provides financial incentives to states for finding permanent homes for children quickly. ASFA also establishes stricter standards for parents, requiring them to demonstrate they have met the necessary criteria for safe and loving parenting before their children are returned to them. Parents must show they have the capacity to care for their children before they are reunited with them. In Nebraska, ASFA shapes how state agencies think about the best interests of children in foster care when making decisions. The goals of ASFA are to protect children and ensure safe and permanent homes for them through reunification or adoption. To that end, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ child welfare policies focus on finding permanent families for children as quickly as possible.

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What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

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