In 1997, Bill Clinton signed the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) Bill. It was intended to provide permanency for children in foster care, and for many children, in particular, older children who are less adoptable. However, it has made it far more likely that incarcerated mothers of children in foster care will lose their children permanently.Children who grow up in foster care with no relationship with their mothers, are at risk of becoming part of the prison population themselves, furthering the growth of the prison-industrial complex. ASFA requires that when a child is under the responsibility of the state for 15 of the most recent 22 months, a “termination of parental rights”, or “TPR” must be filed, freeing the child for adoption and taking away all rights of the parent. Which should be injustice.

In 2010,  the Governor of New York  amended the bill to where foster care agencies have to delay filing for termination if a parent is in prison or a residential drug treatment program or if a parent’s prior incarceration or program participation is a significant factor in why the child has been in foster care for 15 of the last 22 months. For the first time, the new law will require foster care agencies to inform incarcerated parents of their rights and responsibilities and to provide referrals to social services and family visiting programs.

We are seeking for Pennsylvania's Governor to do the same for parents incarcerated in PA prisons. Please sign the petition!