Foster Care: States' Early Experiences Implementing the Adoption and Safe Families Act

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA), focusing on: (1) how states have responded to ASFA regarding legal, administrative, and other changes that social workers may need to make in their day-to-day practice of handling child welfare cases; (2) the status of states' implementation of the two provisions related to making timely permanency decisions for those foster children who are unable to safely return home; and (3) the actions the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken to assist states and monitor the implementation of these two provisions.