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

1 year 6 months ago

ktrickel said:

They need to pay attention to both. They need to understand the general idea behind permanency, and what their foster youth identifies as their permanency. Each child is different, and has different expectations for permanency.

myrandacairns said:

They definitely should have an understanding of the federal law. But I feel it’s very important to listen to youth. After all, our goal is to keep the child safe and do what is best for them. They deserve to have a say in their futures

DanielaPizarro said:

I believe that foster parents should definitely pay attention to the federal definition of permanence and it’s importance, it all ties itself together as the law but also following and paying attention to the youth is just as significant

CatherineCuriel said:

I think that any foster parent should be mindful of the law on permanence and its concept. But I still believe that children have rights and should be heard, they have the right to have a permanent home and care

1 year 9 months ago

VictoriaAllison said:

I think that foster parents need to find a balance between following the federal definition of permanency and the youths' definition. It's important to realize that the federal definition was created for a reason and it should not be completely ignored but foster parents still need to pay attention to the youths' definition because they're the ones who the definition is for and they know themselves so they know their needs.

1 year 10 months ago

EllenArwen said:

It's important to understand the youth's definition of permanency. While not every foster home can provide permanency directly, every foster home can work to support permanency.

Annabelle Russell said:

It is important to understand the federal definition of permanency, but at the same time it is always important to listen to your youth. Each youth is different and nothing is ever by the “textbook.” Listening to your youth and allowing them to let you know what they need and want is important and it helps build a stronger relationship.

1 year 11 months ago

AmandaFernandes said:

Do you think foster parents need to pay most attention to the federal definition of permanency or the youths' definition? Why? I believe that both definitions are important in their own way. The Federal one is quite important but listening to the youth is also significant in fostering a great relationship.

Micaht333 said:

We definitely need to listen to the youth and want they not only need but what they want. That is how we build better relationships with more likelihood of permanency.

2 years 2 weeks ago

PattiH said:

We need to know the definition means. But I feel my home is permanent for my kids they do not leave until themselves or legal have/want to.if my home is not their last stop (adoption) I try to make it the last stop off to permanent..

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