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The Adoption and Safe Families Act is introduced.

1997

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A law known as the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 is introduced. It results in incarcerated women permanently losing their children: a sentence that lasts a lifetime.

ASFA is intended to reduce long-term stays in foster care by facilitating the quick termination of parental rights and a speedy adoption process, thereby prioritizing “permanency” over family reunification.

This represents a sea change in child welfare policy, which has previously emphasized family reunification as being in the best interest of the child.

Under ASFA, states are required to initiate the Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) proceedings when a child has been placed in foster care for 15 out of the last 22 months.