Adoption & Safe Families Act (ASFA)

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) is a U.S. law enacted in 1997 aimed at improving the welfare of children in the foster care system. It emphasizes the need for timely placements in permanent homes, either through adoption or reunification with biological families, while ensuring children's safety is the priority. ASFA mandates that states must make reasonable efforts to achieve permanent placements for children within specific timeframes, and it encourages adoption when children cannot safely return home. Overall, the act seeks to reduce the time children spend in foster care and promote their well-being.