Rethinking Child Welfare Practice Under the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997: A Resource Guide

The provisions of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) intended to promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of children will have a significant impact on child welfare practice. ASFA requires state child welfare agencies to engage parents early in the process, redesign service delivery to achieve permanency goals for children, ensure sufficient resources for families, and partner with the courts. This guide provides a framework for redesigning child welfare practice. It includes an analysis of the key provisions of the Adoption and Safe Families Act and identifies casework practices that are consistent with the law.