An Introduction to Permanence

Credit hours:

2.00

Course Summary

Welcome to a course designed to help foster parents and caregivers regarding 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. We believe permanence is vital to a foster youth’s success in life, therefore we plan on expanding on this topic with future courses.

In this course, you can expect to learn:

The federal definition of permanency
Statistics for permanency outcomes
Your role in helping children establish permanence
Youth perspective about permanence and build skills to speak to 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, but 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 "You don't age out of family", a blog written by Julia Charles, a #FosterClubLeader.

Step 6

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

Do you think foster parents need to pay most attention to the federal definition of permanency or the youths' definition? Why?

Course Discussion

2 years 6 months ago

loldroyd said:

Foster parents should use the federal definition of permanency as a "guideline" to protect children in the foster system. However, permanency plans are not one-size-fits-all. Children have personal, specific needs that will help provide a solid sense of permanency.

kateem02 said:

A federal definition is important for setting minimum standards that each child should receive no matter where they live. The definition of permanency defined by foster youth is important because the youths themselves point out that it’s not a one size fits all definition. The youths needs and desires should be taken into account when permanency is being planned.

Rangel1222 said:

As important as it is for there to be a federal definition of permanency, the youth's definition is more important. Each child may have a different definition and as a foster parent, it is important to understand and acknowledge their views.

2 years 8 months ago

KaylaReiter said:

helpful and insightful

2 years 10 months ago

roger097 said:

great and helpful information

2 years 11 months ago

msbeky1101 said:

I think we follow Federal as well as listen to the children

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 said:

Both federal and youth perspectives need to be considered.

amckinne said:

Both sides need to be heard and then a compromise agreed upon.

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.

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