The Adoption and Safe Families Act requires that permanency plans for children be determined at permanency hearings. Judges must make findings that the child welfare agency is making?reasonable efforts? to finalize those plans. What this means, and how to do it, is the subject of this book, designed to help judges issue orders and resolve disputes so children move more quickly into permanent placements and guide child advocates in eliciting information on agency efforts to move children into permanent homes. Chapters address: determining the permanency plan; assessing reasonable efforts to finalize a permanency plan for reunification, termination of parental rights/adoption, legal guardianship, relative placement, and another planned permanent living arrangement; handling interstate placements (and use of the Interstate Compact); and securing adoption subsidies. Includes checklists and sample court forms and court orders (with each chapter), the text of relevant ASFA regulations, an ASFA timeline chart, and a resource directory.
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