title: Reasonable efforts? Implementation of the reunification bypass provision of ASFA.
abstract: The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 includes provisions to deny reunification services under specified conditions and gives states latitude to develop any number of additional "aggravated circumstances" in which parents need not be offered services. California legislators have developed a relatively large number of conditions enabling agencies to bypass reunification services. Based upon a case record review involving 1,055 parents, this study attempts to identify the proportion of parents eligible for a reunification bypass, the proportion recommended to the courts, and the proportion of parents who were denied reunification services, and examines the characteristics of parents associated with reunification bypass recommendations. Based upon focus groups and interviews with child welfare and judicial personnel in six counties, the study also examines the implementation of reunification bypass provisions. Implications for public policy and practice are provided.
authors.affiliation: University of California at Berkeley, School of Social Welfare, Berkeley, California 94720-7400, USA. dberrick@berkeley.edu
authors.forename: Jill Duerr
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Berrick
authors.forename: Young
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Andrade
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frame
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002655:Child Custody / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003657:Decision Making; D004608:Eligibility Determination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009679:Nuclear Family; D010290:Parents; D012947:Social Work / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*