A more thorough explanation:

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) is a federal law passed in 1997 that requires states to find safe and permanent homes for children who have been abused or neglected within shorter periods of time than previous laws required. The main focus of the law is to ensure the safety and well-being of the child, rather than prioritizing the rights of the parents.

Before the ASFA, child-protection proceedings were focused on the rights of the parents, but this law changed that philosophy. The ASFA requires states to prioritize the safety and well-being of the child, and to work towards finding them a permanent home as quickly as possible.

For example, if a child has been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect, the ASFA requires the state to work towards finding them a permanent home within 12 months. This means that the state must make every effort to find a suitable adoptive family or legal guardian for the child within that time frame.

Another example of how the ASFA works is that it allows for the termination of parental rights if the parents are unable or unwilling to provide a safe and stable home for their child. This means that if a parent has a history of abuse or neglect, or is unable to provide a stable home environment, the state can terminate their parental rights and work towards finding a permanent home for the child.