The 1980 Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act established a major federal role in child welfare and provided

• A. It set up a major federal role and provided adoption assistance payments
• B. It promoted state-only welfare programs
• C. It reduced adoption subsidies
• D. It eliminated foster care programs

Answer: (A)

This item tests how the 1980 Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act expanded federal involvement in child welfare and created financial support for adoptions. The Act established Title IV-E, providing federal funding for foster care maintenance and for adoption subsidies, along with requirements for states to develop child welfare services and permanency planning. By making adoption assistance payments available to families who adopt children with special needs or who need additional support, it promoted permanency and stability for children in care through federal support and oversight.

It didn’t promote only state-run welfare programs, nor did it reduce adoption subsidies or eliminate foster care programs; in fact, it did the opposite by increasing federal involvement and funding for both foster care and adoption subsidies.