ASFA contains comprehensive federal child welfare requirements and focuses national child welfare policy on safety, permanency, and well-being of children. The Act establishes requirements for child welfare practice in a wide variety of areas including permanency planning and timeframes, regular judicial review, reasonable efforts requirements, and results-based accountability. ASFA amended Titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act.

• ASFA
• ASFA Regulations
• Children’s Bureau guide to child welfare sections of IV-B and IV-E.
• What is a Title IV-E Eligibility Review and How Can Legal Professionals Help?

Amended most recently in 2003 by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, CAPTA provides guidelines and federal funding for child abuse and neglect prevention, investigation, treatment, and training. CAPTA also requires appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem in all child abuse and neglect proceedings.

• CAPTA
• Children's Bureau guide to CAPTA

Provides funding for a variety of child welfare services including for families in crisis to prevent removal and aid reunification or adoption, education for older youth who age out of foster care, and mentoring for children with an incarcerated parent.

• Statutory Text

Established the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. Provides guidelines and funding for states to help older children in foster care and those who age out of foster care with services aimed at achieving independence including education, employment, financial management, and housing.

• Statutory Text
• Continuing Court Jurisdiction in Support of 18 to 21 Year-Old Foster Youth

Provides requirements for child welfare cases involving Indian children and their parents. The Act aims to enhance protection for Indian children and families, promote tribal involvement, and preserve children's culture and identity.

• ICWA
• A Practical Guide to the Indian Child Welfare Act. Detailed (360 page) guide to ICWA. A Native American Rights Fund publication with contributions from Craig Dorsay, Esq., Resource Center Consultant.
• ICWA Regulations
• Children's Bureau Program Instruction

Under the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 as amended by the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996 (MEPA-IEP) recipients of federal funding

• may not delay or deny a foster or adoptive placement because of a child’s or a prospective parent’s race, color or national origin
• may not deny anyone the opportunity to become a foster or adoptive parent because of their race, color or national origin, and
• must make diligent efforts to recruit foster and adoptive parents that reflect the diversity of children in that state’s care.

A Guide to the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act by Joan Heifetz Hollinger and The National Resource Center on Legal and Court Issues.

• PowerPoint presentation by Margaret A. Burt, Esq., Resource Center consultant.

The ICPC is a law formed by agreement and enacted in state law by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The ICPC governs placements of children for foster care and adoption across state lines.

• Interstate Placements

Established federal requirements for interstate placements including timeframes for the completion of home study reports. Also required court improvement programs to assess the court's role in interstate placements.

• Statutory Text
• Interstate Placements

Seeks to protect children from sexual and violent crimes; provisions include establishing a national registry of substantiated child abuse and neglect cases, requiring national crime information database checks for prospective foster or adoptive parents, and provides funding to promote enforcement of child pornography laws.

• Statutory Text

Children’s Bureau Information Memorandum