Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001

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P.L. 107-133

For text of the Act visit:
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws/index.htm

For a summary of provisions by the CWLA visit:
www.cwla.org/advocacy/pssf.htm

Reasons Bill Initiated

* Continued need to protect children and strengthen families.
* Rapid increase in numbers of adoptions has created a need for post-adoption services.
* Concern for the rise in the number of children with incarcerated parents and the negative outcomes for some of these children.
* Youth who age out of foster care lag behind other youth in educational attainment.

Objectives/Goals

* To encourage and enable States to develop or expand programs of family preservation services, community-based family support services, adoption promotion and support services, and time-limited family reunification services.
* To reduce risk behavior by children with incarcerated parents by providing one-on-one relationships with adult mentors.
* To continue improvements in State courts systems as required by ASFA.
* To provide educational opportunities for youth aging out of foster care.

Services Provided/Measures Taken

* Amended title IV-B, subpart 2 of the Social Security Act
* Added findings to illustrate the need for programs addressing families at risk for abuse and neglect and those adopting children from foster care.
* Definition of family preservation services amended to include infant safe haven programs.
* Added strengthening parental relationships and promoting healthy marriages to list of allowable activities.
* New focus added to the research, evaluation and technical assistance activities.
* Allowed reallocation of unused funds in title IV-B, subpart 2.
* Created a matching grant program to support mentoring networks for children of prisoners.
* Reauthorized funds for the Court Improvement Program.
* Authorized a voucher program as part of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program.

Credits: National Clearinhouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information