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!

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Course Discussion

BigDaddyDan's picture
1 year 8 months ago

BigDaddyDan said:

I would explain it as being long term parenting and support to them and make sure that they know that their parents will still be involved in their lives.
jvasile's picture
1 year 9 months ago

jvasile said:

Having that one person to lean on is important. Major milestones such as marriage, pregnancy, parenthood, buying a house, doing taxes, career. etc all can be challenging and scary. Having an adult who has been through these major milestones can be there for that child to answer questions and be a guide. The special adult also can be there in those moment to just be happy and proud of them for their achievements. Having someone who loves you unconditionally is most important to the foster youth in today's society.
MrsP's picture
1 year 9 months ago

MrsP said:

Permanency is the answer to a very big question for a foster youth. Where do I belong? Where am I going? Will I be moved again? Who's my family? It's not perfect, but it can be something solid in a messy situation. For our little guy, it is a safe home full of love for him for as long as he needs it.
jbergmann's picture
1 year 9 months ago

jbergmann said:

Permanency is when a child has a stable home. The child feels like they belong there and have a place to come home to. It is important that the child has a trusted adult to come to for advice and support.
MicahMcreid's picture
1 year 9 months ago

MicahMcreid said:

Permanence is the knowledge that you belong to a close-knit family group who will be there for you no matter what may come.
MrRp's picture
1 year 9 months ago

MrRp said:

Permanence is a place/family that you can come back to throughout your entire life where they love you unconditionally. It's a safe place and a place that you feel you are wanted.
ericjo50's picture
1 year 9 months ago

ericjo50 said:

Permanency is the feeling of having a place to call home and knowing that the people in your life are there no matter what. Lots of unconditional love!
jmangen1974's picture
1 year 9 months ago

jmangen1974 said:

Permanence is when a child has that stable place to call home, people who they can trust, unconditional love and support that they never have to question.
missritch1418's picture
1 year 11 months ago

missritch1418 said:

Permanency is when kids feel like they are part of a forever family, like they belong. It's having a place they call home and people they care about. It's finding that unconditional love.
missritch1418's picture
1 year 11 months ago

missritch1418 said:

Permanency is when kids feel like they are part of a forever family, like they belong. It's having a place they call home and people they care about. It's finding that unconditional love.