What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA)?
The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), 42 U.S.C. 673b, 678, 679b (2000), was an amendment to Titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act, approved in 1997. Its goal was to make the health and safety of children the paramount concern in child welfare systems. It sought to expedite permanent placements for children by providing for adoption subsidies, encouraging concurrent planning, mandating the filing of termination of parental rights petitions when certain criteria are met, creating exceptions to the reasonable efforts requirement, and requiring quicker permanency hearings. It also requires background checks of prospective foster and adoptive parents.
The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), 42 U.S.C. 673b, 678, 679b (2000), was an amendment to Titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act, approved in 1997. Its goal was to make the health and safety of children the paramount concern in child welfare systems. It sought to expedite permanent placements for children by providing for adoption subsidies, encouraging concurrent planning, mandating the filing of termination of parental rights petitions when certain criteria are met, creating exceptions to the reasonable efforts requirement, and requiring quicker permanency hearings. It also requires background checks of prospective foster and adoptive parents.
