Abstract

AIDS: The Federal government recently passed the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (AFSA), amending the Adoption and Assistance Act of 1980. The earlier law provided financial incentives to prevent foster care placement, and tried to preserve or reunite families as much as possible. The new law eliminates many protections for parents with children in foster care, and the AFSA requires States to move quickly to sever parental rights after 15 months of foster care. The implementation of these new regulations must now be determined by each State, and readers are urged to contact their New York legislators to preserve as many protections as possible for incarcerated women and their children. The legislation and its implications are discussed in detail.