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The Adoption and Safe Families Act

The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA) is the first major reform of child welfare law since 1980. It includes several provisions that address some of the myriad barriers to permanency for children in foster care.

• It requires states to initiate proceedings to terminate parental rights in certain cases that involve extreme abuse or prolonged stays in foster care;
  
  
• It defines cases in which reasonable efforts are not required to prevent out-of-home placement or to reunify a child with his or her family;
  
  
• It shortens the time frames for permanency hearings in which the court makes a final decision regarding the child's permanent placement;
  
  
• It requires states to document to the court a compelling reason for any permanent placement other than reunification, adoption, legal guardianship or placement with a relative;
  
  
• It provides incentive payments to states to encourage adoption of children out of foster care;
  
  
• It defines a form of legal guardianship that is "intended to be permanent and self-sustaining";
  
  
• It requires the federal government to issueannual report cards on states' performances in meeting certain child welfare outcome measures, including the number of adoptions from foster care.

From A Place to Call Home: Adoption and Guardianship for Children in Foster Care (National Conference of State Legislatures, 3/00). Call (303) 830-2200 to order a copy.