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

roger097's picture
4 years 1 month ago

roger097 said:

great and helpful information
msbeky1101's picture
4 years 2 months ago

msbeky1101 said:

I think we follow Federal as well as listen to the children
mhowardjr35's picture
4 years 2 months ago

mhowardjr35 said:

I think both side need careful consideration. Every situation is different and to have one standard of flow is not necessarily the best for each foster child.
brookiedee's picture
4 years 2 months ago

brookiedee said:

Both federal and youth perspectives need to be considered.
amckinne's picture
4 years 2 months ago

amckinne said:

Both sides need to be heard and then a compromise agreed upon.
missamericab's picture
4 years 2 months ago

missamericab said:

Both are required, in that, the federal definition is to protect the child, but the youth's definition should be taken into consideration because they are there own individual.
IsmaelleHilaire's picture
4 years 3 months ago

IsmaelleHilaire said:

I believe both are equally important. One: to make sure we follow federal definitions and two: to encourage and listen to the child's perspective and definition because they are the one most important in the matter.
RKelley's picture
4 years 3 months ago

RKelley said:

Foster parents should know what is to be 'expected' and in order to do that they should know the federal definition of permanency in order to be prepared going into a conversation with the youth's expectations. Open dialog is important so I can understand their perspective and help make the safest decisions that have their best interest in mind.
tdenapolis's picture
4 years 4 months ago

tdenapolis said:

Both the federal and the youth's definition of permanence are important. the youth's definition should be taken into serious consideration when ensuring that the federal definition / requirements are met to the best of the agency and foster parents' abilities.
Jennifer Kelley's picture
4 years 5 months ago

Jennifer Kelley said:

Each perspective carries their own merit. As a foster parent, it is important to know how the professionals will define permanency in order to understand why decisions are made in a child's permanency journey. However, a youths perspective can really provide a whole different perspective on permanency. They are in the center of their world and when they come to your home, it is important to support them and meet them at their level. They are people that often go unheard and as foster parents, its our jobs to advocate for them and allow their voices to be heard.