ADOPTION AND SAFE FAMILIES ACT TIMELINE

Judicial determination
that reasonable efforts
were made to finalize the
permanency planH
Review
HearingN

File TPR
Petition*

Permanency Hearing

Termination
Hearing

Reasonable
efforts will be
made to reunify
the family

12 mos.

15 mos.

ASAP

Within 60 days,
judicial
determination that
reasonable efforts
were made to
prevent removal

Child
taken
into
care

Judicial determination
that it is contrary to the
welfare of child to
remain in the home
(first court order)

6 mos.

ReviewsN at least once

every 6 mos. and
permanency hearings at
least once every 12 mos.
until child is no longer in
foster care

Adjudication/
Disposition

Judicial
determination
that reasonable
efforts will not be
made to reunify
the family

30 days

Permanency
Hearing

ASAP

ASAP

File TPR
Petition
(if adoption
is the goal)

Termination
Hearing
(if ordered)

12 mos.

Judicial determination
that reasonable efforts
were made to finalize
the plan

If the review hearing is held by the court, it must be held at least once every six months.

The determination that reasonable efforts to finalize the plan be made is often made at the permanency hearing, although it can be made at another point in the proceedings as long as the 12 month deadline is met.

When calculating when to have the permanency hearing or the 15 of 22 months, use the earlier of the date of adjudication OR 60 days after the child is removed from the home.
* Unless one of the following exceptions is documented: child is being cared for by a relative, agency has not provided services it has deemed necessary to rehabilitate the family, or a compelling reason exists.

Source: This timeline was originally prepared by Mimi Laver and published in ABA Child Law Practice, Vol. 17(8), p. 119. It was updated and amended by the authors for this book.