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

rdaniel's picture
4 years 11 months ago

rdaniel said:

The youth's definition of permanency is the more appropriate perspective to look at. Because the kiddos are the ones that actually living in the experience.
cbcole's picture
4 years 11 months ago

cbcole said:

The youth's definition of permanency is of utmost importance!
Yomama's picture
5 years 1 month ago

Yomama said:

the federal definition or permanency because its the final say so not just opinions of other people
SamiNic0803's picture
5 years 3 months ago

SamiNic0803 said:

The youths definition needs to be payed attention to more. They have a different definition then the legal side.
AlbaughM's picture
5 years 4 months ago

AlbaughM said:

I think foster parents need to pay more attention to the youths' definition of permanency. We follow the federal rules, but what permanency means to one child may not be what it means to another. Each person is different. Some people value family more, others may value friends, school, or teammates more. To know what permanency means to a foster youth, it needs to be asked.
brett2634's picture
5 years 4 months ago

brett2634 said:

The youth's definition is more important since they are the ones living it. The whole system is supposed to be centered around what is best for the kids, and they are the ones who can tell us what is working for them and what isn't.
Tivvani's picture
5 years 4 months ago

Tivvani said:

I think everyone should pay attention to the youth's definition, and the federal definition should be based on that. Foster parents have to be aware of the federal definition because, right or wrong, that is the one that will guide all the decisions that are made.
gibb.luke's picture
5 years 5 months ago

gibb.luke said:

Yes, both need equal attention. The law should be followed, however, this is greatly affecting our children in the system more than we can imagine. We need to be intentional to hear their desires and work with them to understand and fulfill their need for permanency.
iveygibb's picture
5 years 5 months ago

iveygibb said:

Both should be equally valued and the law abided by.
ahnordstiv's picture
5 years 6 months ago

ahnordstiv said:

The youths' definition of permanency feels more relevant to me. They are the ones who live this experience -- not the policymakers. Their voices should be elevated!