Certified Case Manager Practice Test

Which federal act focuses on safe adoption practices for children?

1. CAPTA - Reauthorization Act

2. MEPA - Multi Ethnic Placement Act

3. ASFA - Adoption and Safe Families Act

4. ICWA - Indian Child Welfare Act

The correct answer is: ASFA - Adoption and Safe Families Act

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) is designed with a primary focus on ensuring the safety and well-being of children in the adoption process. This act emphasizes the importance of finding permanent homes for children in a timely manner while also prioritizing their safety. Under ASFA, federal and state agencies are required to take action to promote quicker transitions into stable and permanent homes, highlighting the need for children to be in safe environments rather than languishing in foster care. ASFA also stipulates that any plans for a child's case must consider their best interests, including the need for safety, stability, and timely permanency. This has led to a more child-centered approach in child welfare and adoption practices, pushing for timely decisions to be made that benefit the child's long-term safety and emotional well-being. In contrast, other acts such as the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) focus more broadly on preventing child abuse rather than specifically on adoption practices, the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA) addresses racial and ethnic discrimination in adoption and foster care but does not specifically focus on safe adoption practices per se, and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) seeks to protect the interests of Native American children in custody proceedings rather than focusing on