CWEL Child Welfare Law and Regulations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law established the framework for child welfare services and required states to make 'reasonable efforts' to prevent removal of children from their homes?
- Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
- Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (Correct answer)
- Fostering Connections to Success Act
- Family First Prevention Services Act
Correct answer: Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980
The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-272) established the 'reasonable efforts' requirement and the framework for child welfare services.
Question 2: Under CAPTA, states are required to have mandatory reporting laws. Which professional is typically NOT listed as a mandated reporter in most states?
- Teachers and school personnel
- Physicians and nurses
- Neighbors and general public (Correct answer)
- Social workers and counselors
Correct answer: Neighbors and general public
Neighbors and the general public are generally not designated as mandated reporters, though they may report voluntarily; mandated reporters are typically licensed professionals working with children.
Question 3: The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 was enacted primarily to address what issue?
- Inadequate funding for Native American child welfare agencies
- The disproportionate removal of Native American children from their families and tribes (Correct answer)
- Lack of adoption opportunities for Native American children
- Poor health outcomes for Native American youth in foster care
Correct answer: The disproportionate removal of Native American children from their families and tribes
ICWA was enacted to protect the rights of Native American tribes and families after widespread removal of Native children from their homes and placement with non-Native families.
Question 4: Which law created the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) requirement to file for termination of parental rights when a child has been in foster care for how many of the past 22 months?
- 12 months
- 15 months (Correct answer)
- 18 months
- 20 months
Correct answer: 15 months
ASFA requires states to file for termination of parental rights when a child has been in foster care for 15 of the most recent 22 months, with limited exceptions.
Question 5: The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) of 2018 primarily changed what aspect of the child welfare system?
- Mandatory reporting thresholds for child abuse
- Federal funding eligibility to include prevention and kinship support services (Correct answer)
- Requirements for home study approvals
- Standards for foster parent licensing
Correct answer: Federal funding eligibility to include prevention and kinship support services
FFPSA expanded federal Title IV-E funding eligibility to cover evidence-based prevention services and support for kinship caregivers, shifting focus upstream to prevent foster care entry.
Question 6: Under the Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) and its amendment (IEPA), child welfare agencies are prohibited from doing what?
- Placing children across state lines without court approval
- Delaying or denying placement based solely on race, color, or national origin (Correct answer)
- Allowing foster parents to adopt children in their care
- Using private agencies for foster care recruitment
Correct answer: Delaying or denying placement based solely on race, color, or national origin
MEPA/IEPA prohibits agencies from delaying or denying a foster or adoptive placement based solely on the race, color, or national origin of the child or prospective parent.
CWEL Child Welfare Law and Regulations 1
Which federal law established the framework for child welfare services and required states to make 'reasonable efforts' to prevent removal of children from their homes?