Legal Definitions - foster-care drift

Definition: Foster-care drift is a situation where children who are placed in foster care remain in the system for too many years without being reunited with their parents or placed in permanent homes through adoption. This can cause them to be in legal limbo and can negatively impact their development.

Example: A child is removed from their home due to abuse or neglect and placed in foster care. However, their parents are unable to make the necessary changes to regain custody, and the child remains in foster care for several years without being adopted or reunited with their parents.

Explanation: In this example, the child is experiencing foster-care drift because they are stuck in the foster care system for an extended period of time without a permanent home. This can be detrimental to their emotional and social development, as they may struggle to form attachments and relationships with others.

The Adoption and Safe Families Act was passed in 1997 to help address this issue and ensure that children in foster care are placed in permanent homes as quickly as possible.