 
Promoting Safe and Timely Adoption
President George W. Bush is joined by U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Michael O. Leavitt, right, former Texas U.S. Representative Tom DeLay, left, U.S. Rep. Wally Herger, R-Calif., second from left and U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, July 3, 2006, as President Bush signs H.R. 5403, the Safe and Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children Act of 2006. (White House Photo by Kimberly Hewitt)
The Act will facilitate the adoption of children in foster care in the following ways:- Adds new federal requirements relating to the placement of children in foster care across state lines, ensuring that receiving states complete required home studies (assessment of the suitability of a possible placement) of prospective adoptive families within 60 days of receiving the request from the state with responsibility for the child;
- Authorizes payment of incentives of $1,500 per interstate home study for home studies completed within 30 days;
- Requires more frequent visits by caseworkers to children placed outside the state with responsibility for the child (i.e., every 6 months rather than the current requirement of every 12 months).
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