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!

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Course Discussion

amberbobst's picture
6 years 3 months ago

amberbobst said:

The federal side is definitely important but to also remained focus on hearing the child's voice on the matter. Ultimately we are to look out for the child's needs and providing permanence.
gretchennoah's picture
6 years 3 months ago

gretchennoah said:

I keep the federal version in mind...but I look first to the child's view. How can we help them if we don't understand their view first? One step at a time... one court hearing at a time. We get through it. But it's amazing in our experience how many families do not have good bio-family permanency options. So sad. We foster mainly teens....so the reading is correct... most are not adopted. But they all still need love and a place to think of and call HOME. Wish more foster families would consider teens. Very rewarding.
cls2lrn2's picture
6 years 4 months ago

cls2lrn2 said:

What the Courts Require and What the Youth Need should and need to go hand in hand. Some of what I see and hear that goes on is out of this world. Some things should never happen. Some things should never take so long and a lot of things need to be taken into consideration.
cls2lrn2's picture
6 years 4 months ago

cls2lrn2 said:

What the Courts Require and What the Youth Need should and need to go hand in hand. Some of what I see and hear that goes on is out of this world. Some things should never happen. Some things should never take so long and a lot of things need to be taken into consideration.
Laura's picture
6 years 4 months ago

Laura said:

We have the responsibility to be aware of the law and how it affects all parties involved, but also to give careful consideration to the POV of the children in our care to ensure that their needs are being met., their questions answered and they are advocated for.
Tricia49841's picture
6 years 4 months ago

Tricia49841 said:

The sooner a child has permanence the better their chances
rlofton's picture
6 years 4 months ago

rlofton said:

The child's view and the court is very important
SPrimer's picture
6 years 4 months ago

SPrimer said:

While you obviously need to pay attention to, and honor, the federal definition of permanency, it is also important to listen to the youth and their definition of permanency. it is important as foster parents, who are potentially involved in permanency planning, to listen to the child and respect their definition and beliefs regarding permanency. We should be able to (or at least try our best to) advocate for what is in the child's best interests while also respecting the child's wishes regarding permanency.
jennywrenhen's picture
6 years 4 months ago

jennywrenhen said:

I think it is most important to see things from a child's POV and what they need and want. The federal definition should be honored, however it is important to remember that this set of guidelines is made in an office by people who are *not* in foster care.
tesk87's picture
6 years 5 months ago

tesk87 said:

I believe it is most important to pay attention to the child's views as most important because each child's situation is different. But federal laws are pretty much one size fits all.