Permanency Planning and Adoption Flashcards

According to federal law, within how many months must a permanency hearing be held for a child in foster care?

Answer: 12 months

ASFA (Adoption and Safe Families Act) requires a permanency hearing within 12 months of a child entering foster care.

Which permanency goal is considered the preferred outcome under ASFA for children who cannot safely return home?

Answer: Adoption

ASFA established adoption as the preferred permanency goal for children who cannot safely return home, to ensure stable, legally permanent families.

What is the primary purpose of a concurrent planning approach in child welfare?

Answer: To simultaneously pursue reunification while preparing an alternative permanency plan

Concurrent planning involves working toward reunification while simultaneously developing an alternative permanency plan, reducing time children spend in foster care.

Under ASFA, a state must file a petition for termination of parental rights (TPR) when a child has been in foster care for how long within the most recent 22 months?

Answer: 15 months

ASFA requires states to file for TPR when a child has been in foster care for 15 of the most recent 22 months, with limited exceptions.

Which of the following is an exception under ASFA that allows a state to avoid filing for termination of parental rights despite the 15/22-month rule?

Answer: The child is placed with a relative and the state documents compelling reasons

ASFA allows exceptions to the TPR filing requirement when a child is in relative placement and the state documents compelling reasons why filing is not in the child's best interest.

What does the term 'legal risk placement' mean in the context of adoption?

Answer: Placing a child with prospective adoptive parents before parental rights are terminated

A legal risk placement occurs when a child is placed with prospective adoptive parents before parental rights are legally terminated, carrying the risk that the adoption may not proceed.

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) requires that before placing a Native American child for adoption, preference must be given in what order?

Answer: Extended family, other tribal members, other Native American families

ICWA establishes a placement preference order of extended family members, other members of the child's tribe, then other Native American families before non-Native placements.