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I do not believe the ASFA is a joke by any means---I do believe that there needs to continue to be efforts made to improve the system--and always will need to be changes based on the fact that when one change is made we cannot determine the impact that change will have later--While it is wonderful the federal government has funded Adoption and provided subsideis and other incentives it is clear many of these incentives have resulted in other abuses we did not foresee--example is (POSSIBLE) the family in NJ who 'adopted" and now stands accused of not feeding the boys they were recieving subsidies for.
Not to even imply that adoptive families would adopt in order to recieve a pay check--as the subsidies can hardly been seen as enough to indure the process for--however, adoption subsidies do not in most states require any continued visitation from caseworkers therefore the chance does exsist for abuses.
Another ripple effect from the passage of the ASFA is the opportunity for Foster Families to adopt their Foster children. While many states did allow this prior to the passage of ASFA many did not and in those states there has been an increase in the numbers of families who decide to Foster as a means to adopt. The idea is grand and right, however the education of these families has not ALWAYS been enough for them to fully understand what they are getting into. The FACT is that in 2001 57% of children were reunited with their birthparents and this number does not indicate how many children are adopted by relatives. Therefore a Foster Familiy needs to understand in advance that there is less then 43% chance any child placed with them will be adopted by them.
I think as citizens who are concerned with these issues one of our PRIMARY goals should be to start learning about the judges WE are electing to serve on the courts that will decide the fate of our children in Foster Care--HOW OFTEN DO YOU VOTE and see one judge after another on your ballot running unopposed? Do you really know anything about the judges you are voting for or do you assume an unopposed candidate MUST be the best man for the job?
There are three sides to our government and we cannot see changes by working only on one side of the issue--If you want changes you need to ask your Governors, your elected legislature and your judicial branches....ask questions of all the people in charge and make this issue imporatant to your community by speaking out and gathering support--as well as educating the community you live in....
We are not going to get very far when we focus on the caseworkers and the STATE in these areas--they are bound by the laws of the STATE and the federal government. The majority of caseworkers want the same things WE do as Foster parents and adoptive parents---they are only able to act under the laws that are implimented and only as far as the judges we elect will allow them....
It is always so easy to blame the caseworkers for all of this--but they really are only one step above us when it comes right down to it. Speak out and demand answers.