Credit hours:
3.00

Course Summary

For a young person in foster care, having permanence means stability and reliable, supportive lifelong connections. All youth in foster care need it. Understanding permanency and the Permanency Pact described in this course can give you confidence as you guide youth in your care towards building and strengthening relationships with supportive people in their life.

In this course, you can expect to learn:

  • The importance of permanency for youth in care

  • How young people in foster care think about permanency

  • The different types of permanent relationships and their roles in the lives of youth in care

  • The difference between positive and negative supports

  • Several ways a transitioning youth could benefit from the support of an adult

  • How to brainstorm a list of prospective Permanency Pact adults

  • How to access and create a Permanency Pact

  • The importance of understanding that permanency comes with responsibility from all people involved – including youth

Step 1

Watch the video "What Does Permanency Mean?" developed by Nebraska Children and Families Foundation to better understand what permanency means to foster youth.

Step 2

Meet the Lived Experience Leaders involved in the ACF’s All-In Youth Engagement Team, and learn from their expertise about what they would like to see for permanency in the foster care system.  Then review the All-In Youth Engagement Team’s  “Recommendations for Improving Permanency and Well-Being.”

Step 3

Review the FosterClub Permanency Pact. The Pact is designed to help foster youth identify supportive adult connections which will continue to provide positive supports through and beyond the transition from care. As a foster parent, you can introduce a young person to this tool and help them identify those continuing supports in an effort to build a strong support network.

Step 4

Watch and read how the Juvenile Law Center in Pennsylvania and its "Youth Fostering Change" program developed a "youth-perspective" toolkit for child welfare professionals that helps youth in care achieve permanency. 

Step 5

Review the following post written about the Permanency Pact by Independent Living Outreach Specialist at Children’s Aid Society Ebone Watkins.

Step 6

Review the article "Legal and Relational Permanence in Older Foster Care Youths" from Social Work Today.

Step 7

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

How would you explain permanence to your foster youth?

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!

  • Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Subscribe now!

Just $24.95 for 1 year subscription per parent (unlimited access to courses for one year).

Subscribe Now

Log in to your account

Already subscribed? Log in to your FosterClub account now to take a course!

Log in

Course Discussion

Ankromfamily1's picture
6 years 10 months ago

Ankromfamily1 said:

I would describe permanency as unconditional love and support through their entire lives, a bond that can't be broken. We can disapprove of people's choices sometimes, but that doesn't mean they are no longer our family members, and permanency is the same thing.
robmiller's picture
6 years 11 months ago

robmiller said:

Having a relationship with family that goes beyond the childhood years into adulthood. A relationship that is supportive, safe, and loving. Being there for each other through the good and the bad times.
kellibartee's picture
6 years 11 months ago

kellibartee said:

I would explain it to them as stability. Knowing that without a doubt they are safe, wanted, respected and loved. I try to make sure that all my children feel as though they belong. I do this by allowing them to make decisions about their life with us; such as decorating their room, taking them on vacations, and allowing them to have an active voice in family discussions and decisions. I also try to make sure they are comfortable, with me, with the other members of the family.
shankennedy's picture
6 years 11 months ago

shankennedy said:

The biggest thing I've heard is listening. While communicating is necessary, it really is how you listen and react to them. Making the children a part of your life as though they are your children. Being a single foster mom with no kids of my own, I treat foster kids as my kids. They get to have a family with myself and those in my extended family (sometimes, whether they want it or not).
refrazi's picture
6 years 11 months ago

refrazi said:

Giving them your undivided attention, unconditional support. Showing them that you love them and telling them that. Just been there for them, letting them cry on your shoulder
kfisher6's picture
6 years 12 months ago

kfisher6 said:

Life long love, care, and support.
PatPlez123's picture
6 years 12 months ago

PatPlez123 said:

Permanency is having unconditional support, stability, and long lasting love for someone that you are willing to help guide through the years to a child, teenager or young adult. As well as someone who cares for you and wants to see you succeed in life.
PatPlez123's picture
6 years 12 months ago

PatPlez123 said:

Permanency is having unconditional support, stability, and long lasting love for someone that you are willing to help guide through the years to a child, teenager or young adult. As well as someone who cares for you and wants to see you succeed in life.
PatPlez123's picture
6 years 12 months ago

PatPlez123 said:

Permanency is having unconditional support, stability, and long lasting love for someone that you are willing to help guide through the years to a child, teenager or young adult. As well as someone who cares for you and wants to see you succeed in life.
gobucks33's picture
7 years 1 week ago

gobucks33 said:

Permanency is having unconditional support, someone to help guide you through your teenage and young adult years. Someone who cares for you and cares about your future and wants to help you succeed.