Adoption and Safe Families Act

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), enacted in 1997, aims to promote the adoption of children in the foster care system and ensure their safety and well-being. It emphasizes the need for timely permanency for children, prioritizing adoption when reunification with biological families isn't possible. The law requires states to make reasonable efforts to reunite families but also mandates that children be placed in safe, loving environments as quickly as possible. By prioritizing children's welfare, ASFA seeks to reduce the time they spend in foster care and improve their chances for stable, permanent homes.