What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) is a law that was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1997. It was designed to help ensure the safety of children in the foster care system and to encourage the adoption of children by families. ASFA sets standards and timelines for states to follow when it comes to terminating the parental rights of parents who are unable or unwilling to take care of their children. It also sets time limits for when a family must be identified to adopt a child. In Oklahoma, ASFA is enforced by the Department of Human Services, which is responsible for keeping the safety of children in the state’s foster care system a priority. ASFA requires that any child in foster care must be placed with a safe and permanent family within 12 to 15 months. The focus of the law is on finding and providing a permanent home for children as soon as possible. Also, in order to ensure the safety of children in foster care, ASFA requires background checks to be conducted on all potential adoptive parents and foster parents. It also requires that children who are in foster care receive timely medical and mental health evaluations and treatment. Overall, ASFA is an important law that helps states, such as Oklahoma, keep children safe and ensure that they are placed in safe and permanent homes. The law sets standards and timelines that states must follow in order to ensure that children are in safe and loving environments.

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What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

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