The Adoption and Safe Families Act: a qualitative analysis of daily practice

Abstract

Since the 1997 passage of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), which mandates timetables for child welfare cases, researchers have reviewed the aggregate levels effects of ASFA without considering daily practice of front-line workers. This research details interviews with 13 child welfare professionals, who discussed the pros and cons of ASFA. Most respondents like ASFA’s expectations for permanency, but disliked ASFA’s application to juvenile offenders, the amount of time required to comply with ASFA and the standardization of cases. Based upon these concerns, research presents three policy recommendations.