CA News
The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) Expanded Discretion Bill becomes law
June 16, 2010
After years of advocacy by the Correctional Association, the Coalition for Women Prisoners, and dozens of organizations across the state, the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) Expanded Discretion Bill is finally law.
Women in Prison Project staff and members of the Coalition for Women Prisoners with ASFA bill sponsors Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Assemblymember
Jeffrion Aubry.
We commend Governor Paterson for signing the ASFA bill and giving families separated by the criminal justice and child welfare systems a more fair chance to stay together before parental rights are terminated.
We are enormously grateful to bill sponsors Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry for their leadership and long-standing dedication to this issue, and to OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrion, for her strong and steadfast efforts to advance policies that better meet the needs of New York's young people.
It has been our great honor to partner with the organizations and individuals whose hard work made this accomplishment possible. Thank you for your perseverence and your determined efforts each and every day to change our society for the better.
And, we send our most heartfelt gratitude to our supporters for taking action and standing with us to achieve this meaningful step toward restoring fairness and humanity to our criminal justice system.
More info:
A Fair Chance for Families Separated by Prison Read the article by Women in Prison Project Director Tamar Kraft-Stolar.
A Fair Chance slideshow Created by the
Women in Prison Project and photographer James Trory, this slideshow depicts stories about families separated by prison.
ASFA Bill Press Conference (February 24, 2010)
ADVOCACY IN ACTION Members of the Coalition for Women Prisoners traveled to Albany on January 19 to garner support from legislators for the ASFA Expanded Discretion Bill. [View more photos from the day]
PRESS COVERAGE
July 25, 2010 (Women's Enews)
PRISON SHOULDN'T BE A BAR TO MOTHERHOOD
Rigid foster care rules threaten to dissolve family ties when mothers are in prison or residential drug treatment. A new law in New York State takes steps to help these families weather the separation.
March 5, 2010 (Our Time Press)
GIVING INCARCERATED PARENTS A FIGHTING CHANCE TO REUNITE WITH THEIR CHILDREN
Lawmakers and criminal justice reform advocates joined together at the State Capitol last week to garner support for legislation (S.2233/A.5462-A) that will allow foster care agencies the discretion to delay filing papers to terminate the parental rights of parents who are incarcerated or enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program.
March 1, 2010 (Legislative Gazette)
PRISON MOMS WANT MORE LEEWAY IN PARENTAL RIGHTS CASES
The Senate seems poised to pass legislation this month that supporters say would help keep intact families separated by the criminal justice and child welfare systems.
February 25, 2010 (City Limits)
A FIGHT TO EXTEND PARENTS' RIGHTS
Foster children with parents in prison are often put up for adoption. The State Senate takes up a bill aimed at slowing that practice.
February 24, 2010 (El Diario NY)
REPUBLICANS MUST STAND UP FOR FAMILIES
Children and parents, separated through prison sentences, deserve a chance to heal and rebuild. This is why the New York State legislature must adjust a law that would give incarcerated parents and their children the ability to reunite.