Providing for the best interests of the child?: The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997

The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA) was passed to increase rates of adoptions and other permanent placements for children in foster care. Through acceleration of timelines for terminating the rights of biological parents and for developing permanency plans, ASFA has the potential to reduce the length of time children spend in foster care as well as the number of disruptions in placements they experience there, yet still promotes reunification when this can be accomplished expeditiously and safely. Developmental research suggests that foster care often results in better outcomes for children than does reunification with their biological families but that adoption often leads to better outcomes than does foster care. These findings indicate that the overall goals outlined in ASFA are appropriate and likely serve the best interests of many children; however, a number of problems with the child welfare system remain. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author Jennifer Lansford Sanford School of Public Policy