Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Systems Change to Achieve Permanency Mountains and Plains Child Welfare Implementation Center Arlington, Texas April 15, 2009. Definition of Permanency. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Systems Change to Achieve PermanencyMountains and Plains Child Welfare Implementation CenterArlington, TexasApril 15, 2009
Definition of Permanency
“… Permanency is defined as a legal, permanent family living arrangement, that is, reunification with the birth family, living with relatives, guardianship, or adoption (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2005).”
Definition of Permanency
Permanence is not a philosophical process, a plan, or a foster care placement, nor is it intended to be a family relationship that lasts only until the child/youth turns age 18.
Permanence is about locating and supporting a lifetime family.
Definition of Permanency
Planning for permanence should begin at: entry into care, be family-focused, culturally competent, continuous, and approached with the highest degree of
urgency.
Child welfare agencies, in partnership with the
larger community, have a moral and professional responsibility to find a permanentfamily relationship for each child and young person in foster care.
Definition of Permanency
Permanence is achieved with a family relationship that offers safe, stable, and committed parenting,unconditional love and lifelong support, and legal family membership status.
Permanence can be the result of preservation of the
family, reunification with birth family; or legal guardianship or adoption by kin, fictive kin, or other caring and committed adults
(Youth Permanency Framework, NRCFCPPP)
PERMANENCY OUTCOME 1Children have permanency and stability in their living situations
Item 5: Foster care re-entries Item 6: Stability of foster care placement Item 7: Permanency goal for child Item 8: Reunification, guardianship, or
permanent placement with relatives Item 9: Adoption Item 10: Other planned permanent living
PERMANENCY OUTCOME 2The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children.
Item 11: Proximity of foster care Item 12: Placement with siblings Item 13: Visiting with parents and siblings in
foster care Item 14: Preserving connections Item 15: Relative placement Item 16: Relationship of child in care with
parents
WELL-BEING OUTCOME 1 Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children’s needs.
Item 17: Needs and services of child, parents, and foster parents
Item 18: Child and family involvement in case planning
Item 19: Caseworker visits with child Item 20: Caseworker visits with parents
Relationship of Well-Being to Permanency
Positive ratings on
Services to children, parents, foster parents
Involvement of parents in case planning
Caseworker visits with children
Caseworker visits with parents
Substantial achievement on
Timely achievement of permanency (Outcome P1)
Preserving children’s connections while in foster care (Outcome P2)
supports . . .
Current Issues in Permanency
Substance Abuse Mental Health Issues Domestic Violence
On-Going Assessment Concurrent Planning Placement/Educational Stability Family Engagement Youth Engagement – APPLA Issues Supervision Visiting
What strategies address improvements in permanency planning? Concurrent planning
Establish statewide or local permanency units
Develop and implement new case plans
Develop or strengthen policies and procedures
Review processes for appropriateness and timeliness of permanency goals
Family group decision-making
Comprehensive child/youth and family assessments
New training for staff on permanency planning
What strategies address permanency for youth in foster care? Expand services to youth
Strengthen staff capacity
Improve case planning/transitional plans
Focus on transitioning Native youth
What strategies address permanency for youth in foster care?
Collaborate with youth/other stakeholders
Disseminate information on services
Efforts to preserve youth connections, Primarily through relative searches and permanent placements
Policy and procedural change
What strategies address the use of relatives as placement resources?
Locate and identify relatives at the point of intake
Ongoing identification and assessment of relative
Implementation of practice models
Implementation of processes, such as Family Centered Practice, Family Search and Engagement; Family Group Decision Making
Assess and identify barriers to use of relatives as placement resources
Strengthen supervisory and management oversight
What strategies address comprehensive needs assessments?
Practice change strategies Revisions to tools
Consistency in practice
Improve engagement of family members and stakeholders
Implement practice models and/or processes
Training of staff
What strategies address comprehensive needs assessments? Revise policy and procedures/strengthen
existing policies
More frequent visits to children and families and designating a visit to be spent on assessment and developing service plans
Oversight of practice through supervisors and managers
Placement Stability Strategies
Build on promising practice from more successful counties
Development of foster parent support groups
Training on partnerships with foster parents, agency staff, service providers
Targeted Foster Family recruitment and services for older children
Children’s Bureau Training and Technical Assistance Network
National Resource Center for Recruitment and Retention of Foster and Adoptive Parents at AdoptUsKids (NRCRRFAP)
Concurrent Planning Curriculum: In English and Spanishwww.nrcfcppp.org/infoservices/concurrent-permanencyplanning
Visiting – Developing an On Line Curriculum with the Child Welfare Information GatewayComing Soon
Webcasts/Teleconferences/Podcasts Concurrent Planning: Strategies for Implementation
Family Group Conferencing: Bringing the Family into Family-Centered Framework
Weekly Update
Teleconference Topics
Jan 22 Guardianship
March 19 Foster Parents as Mentors to Birth Families
May 21 Intersection of Child Welfare Juvenile Justice
June 18 Family Finding
July 23 CW Workforce – Retention Issues
Sept 17 Family Centered Approach for Juvenile Justice
Webcast Topics
March 24 State/Tribal IV-E Agreements – Kathy Deserly
April 10 Bridging the Gap – Birth/Foster Parent Relationships – Carolyn Fowler
May 28 Kinship Issues – Dr. Joe Crumbley
Gerald P. Mallon, DSWProfessor and Executive Director
The National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice and Permanency Planning
Hunter College School of Social WorkA Service of the Children’s Bureau
129 East 79th StreetNew York, New York 10075
(212) [email protected]
www.nrcfcppp.org
