An Introduction to Permanence

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!

Course Discussion

5 years 6 months ago

ahnordstiv said:

The youths' definition of permanency feels more relevant to me. They are the ones who live this experience -- not the policymakers. Their voices should be elevated!

tadisney said:

The youth, that is who you are serving.

5 years 7 months ago

vmburk said:

Both sides are important- The legal view of permanency and the opinions of those who have gone through the system.

5 years 8 months ago

Kaaron07 said:

Both views are important--you need the legal definition, but you also need to see permanency from the view of those most impacted by it.

5 years 9 months ago

nryan206 said:

As a foster parent we need to be familiar and following rules and regulations. And as a parent to a youth, we should be making them feel as if they are in a permanent home by the definition that means to them.

CarolineShafer said:

I think that it is unfair to ask whether foster parents should pay more attention to the federal definition of permanency or the youths' definition.It is very important that we pay attention to federal laws and abide by them because we do not have another choice, however, understanding and paying attention to our youths' opinions and needs is extremely important. Law's can be changed and it is possible to get the federal governments attention if enough people unite together in order to make a difference, however, this would never be possible without listening to our youth.

5 years 11 months ago

changers said:

I believe that both deserve equal attention. Every situation is different. Therefore no child should have to be put in a box. In the end what is best for the child should be first even if it is not the same as the child desires. However, we must not forget that there are resource parents who may not mind working with children to help maintain and establish important relationships even if they are not (court) possible at the time.

Marlene said:

Yes, foster parents and youth's need to pay attention to the federal permanency definition. Both parties utilizing these actions of permanency help the best interest of the child scenarios.

mcoito46 said:

Both are important. We need to follow the law; but we do not need to exclude the children and ignore their needs.

5 years 12 months ago

horses10 said:

Both definitions are important. Each child's story is unique and should be looked at what is the best interest of the child.

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