Credit hours:
2.00

Course Summary

This course is designed to help foster parents and caregivers understand and support permanency for foster youth. In this course you will learn that permanency comes in many different shapes and sizes, and that different people can provide different types of permanency for foster youth. FosterClub believes permanence is vital to a youth in and from care's success in life, and that foster parents can play a vital role in this helping youth establish this.

In this course, you can expect to learn:

  • The federal definition of permanency

  • Statistics for permanency outcomes

  • Your role in helping children and youth establish permanence

  • Youth perspective about permanence

  • Build skills to speak to children and youth about permanence

Step 1

Read this FosterClub Real Story written by Aaron Weaver explaining how achieving permanency can make a significant contribution to a young person’s time spent in care.

Step 2

Read "Permanency: More Than Just Homes." The article was written for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers, and contains relevant and valuable information for foster parents and caregivers

Step 3

Read pages 1-5 of "Court Hearings for the Permanent Placement of Children" from the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Step 4

Review the National Foster Youth Advisory Council's (NFYAC), a group of young leaders who have experienced foster care, top ten recommendations for Ensuring Permanency for Youth in the Foster Care.

Step 5

Young people have a need for permanence even after they leave foster care. Read the blog "You Don't Age Out of Family" written by Julia Charles, a FosterClub Lived Experience Leader.

Step 6

Read this FosterClub Real Story by Aleks Talsky about the importance of educating young people on their permanency options and allowing them agency to determine their own permanency plan.

Step 7

Join the discussion in the comments below to answer the following question:

What actions will you take to ensure children and youth in your care have an active role in their own permanency plans?

Step 8

Finished the module? If you are logged in as a subscribed user, take the quiz to earn your Continuing Education Credit hours and certificate!

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Course Discussion

snicholas's picture
6 years 6 months ago

snicholas said:

The federal definition should be the minimum standard but the youth's definition should be the suggested guideline. Listen to them when being the process of permanency.
SGRIER's picture
6 years 6 months ago

SGRIER said:

It saddens me that we should listen to the federal side, because in the end thats what dictates the outcome for the children. This is especially concerning for the kids who are too young to speak for themselves, and the past speaks volumes. It is a struggle for me to understand how reunification in my mind shoud not be an option in some cases but is very much a reality. Children that are too young to speak are at a disadvantage and sometimes need to be rescued from the whole family. It seems to me that if the family has custody, they will in some form be exposed to the parent that was not able to care for these children in a proper manner. Just seeing the parent can cause trauma. Not all parents rights need to be terminated but permanency seems to attempt to make it possible for some children to reunify with parents that dont deserve as well. I know its their job in the end. My concern is what happens after reunification.
katelynhall22's picture
6 years 5 months ago

katelynhall22 replied:

I agree, and it's hard to figure out how to appropriately voice my concerns without being pegged as biased.
amberbobst's picture
6 years 7 months ago

amberbobst said:

The federal side is definitely important but to also remained focus on hearing the child's voice on the matter. Ultimately we are to look out for the child's needs and providing permanence.
gretchennoah's picture
6 years 7 months ago

gretchennoah said:

I keep the federal version in mind...but I look first to the child's view. How can we help them if we don't understand their view first? One step at a time... one court hearing at a time. We get through it. But it's amazing in our experience how many families do not have good bio-family permanency options. So sad. We foster mainly teens....so the reading is correct... most are not adopted. But they all still need love and a place to think of and call HOME. Wish more foster families would consider teens. Very rewarding.
cls2lrn2's picture
6 years 7 months ago

cls2lrn2 said:

What the Courts Require and What the Youth Need should and need to go hand in hand. Some of what I see and hear that goes on is out of this world. Some things should never happen. Some things should never take so long and a lot of things need to be taken into consideration.
cls2lrn2's picture
6 years 7 months ago

cls2lrn2 said:

What the Courts Require and What the Youth Need should and need to go hand in hand. Some of what I see and hear that goes on is out of this world. Some things should never happen. Some things should never take so long and a lot of things need to be taken into consideration.
Laura's picture
6 years 7 months ago

Laura said:

We have the responsibility to be aware of the law and how it affects all parties involved, but also to give careful consideration to the POV of the children in our care to ensure that their needs are being met., their questions answered and they are advocated for.
Tricia49841's picture
6 years 8 months ago

Tricia49841 said:

The sooner a child has permanence the better their chances
rlofton's picture
6 years 8 months ago

rlofton said:

The child's view and the court is very important