The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act

The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act, enacted in 1980, aims to improve the foster care and adoption processes in the United States. It supports the well-being of children in the welfare system by encouraging family preservation, promoting permanent placements through adoption, and providing financial assistance to adoptive families. The law requires states to create plans for ensuring the safety and stability of children in foster care, focusing on their long-term needs and helping to minimize the trauma of displacement from their families. Overall, it seeks to enhance the lives of vulnerable children and ensure they find loving homes.