ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on policies and programs dealing with child protection, family preservation, permanency planning, adoption and foster care, and juvenile justice. It provides information that will help people to develop an understanding of child welfare and family policies. The chapter then explores the steps one must take in order to craft effective child welfare and family policy using the strengths perspective. It examines major federal child welfare policies and programs as well as juvenile justice policies and legislation for children with special needs. The chapter briefly reviews the background of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in order to restate the conditions that propelled the passage of unique piece of child welfare legislation. The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 amended the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act (AACWA) of 1980. Over the years, many states and counties have experimented with family preservation initiatives to prevent placement and to support reunification.
