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

4 months 1 week ago

sedadianette said:

"What actions will you take to ensure children and youth in your care have an active role in their own permanency plans?" Help the young person to understand the options available to them and get them involved in developing their chosen path.

Nunezb22 said:

“What actions will you take to ensure children and youth in your care have an active role in their own permanency plans?” I think it’s important for foster parents to fully understand what permanency means from a legal definition and the child’s. As a foster parent I need to talk with the foster child, and workers involved in their care, to ensure that those in care understand what permanency is and to help them plan out their own permanency plan. I like the idea of doing a Family Circle or Connected Chart to help them visualize the people in their lives. I would use that to help them list people who are resources to help them, and to have a list to help them know the resources available after they reach adulthood.

10 months 2 weeks ago

BBradford15 said:

Paying attention to both is important. Knowing the federal definitions and guidelines make it easier for the legal process and to help guide kids along that. Learning the youths permanence definition is important as wel because that looks different for all children. Some embrace it and it becomes a blessing whereas others defy and do not accept the permanency that may come in there journey.

1 year 3 months ago

Bdean said:

I believe it's important to pay attention to both, to make you a better advocate educator for the youth.

1 year 5 months ago

simmonsb62 said:

As a brand new foster parent, it is very important to understand both, the federal definition of permanency and the youths' definition. When I first heard the term, "permanency," I immediately thought, "Forever Family." That the child has either been reunited with their birth family or adopted. Not until learning about foster care and the roles and importance of having compassionate, committed adults who are willing to be lifelong connections, did I truly understand permanency. Permanency is the responsibility of everyone involved in a foster child's life.

HeatherMarie said:

I believe it is important to understand both the legal aspects and the needs and desires of the young person. I appreciate all of the courageous young men and women who teach us what it is like to be a foster child in the system and how hard it is when they age out of the system.

1 year 6 months ago

G.Brown said:

Its important to learn and listen

1 year 8 months ago

kmbogue said:

In my opinion, foster parents need to take it upon themselves to understand how permanency is defined at the federal and state level as well as by the youth and the youths team. This can make a world of difference to ensure the implicit is explicit and can lead to important discussions.

rhiannon said:

I believe foster parents need to pay attention to both federal definition of permanency and the youths' definition. You need to know all the aspects of the fostering system and to make sure the voices are heard from the youths' side since we are their best advocate.

1 year 10 months ago

GenB said:

I think more weight needs to be given to what a child needs or what is in the child’s best interest vs complying with a governmental ruling which may are may not be appropriate for that child’s situation.

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