Permanency Planning Framework 2/6/02

Permanency Planning Framework Reasonable Efforts Least Restrictive Maintain Connections & Continuity Assessments & Case Plans Partnerships with Foster & Birth Parents Frequent Visitation Case Reviews Timely Decision Making

Principles (con’t.) Differential Diagnosis Full Disclosure/Inclusion Time Limits as Motivators Frequent Visitation Plan A & B Behavior Not Promises Frequent Reviews/Staffings

Systemic Model of Foster Care Child Birth Family Agency Foster Family

Concurrent Planning Definitions Working towards reunification while at the same time, establishing an alternative permanency plan. Concurrent rather than sequential planning efforts to more quickly move children from the uncertainty of foster Care to the security of a permanent family.

Roles of Permanency Planning Families Nurture Children Support Birth Parents Facilitate Visitation & Reunification Efforts Participate in Pre-Service Training Participate in Support Groups Serve as members of the Planning/ Treatment Team Find Other Permanency Planning Families Serve As Adoptive Home if Necessary. Redefine Role if Child Goes Home

Adoptions & Safe Families Act Safety is Paramount Concurrent Planning Practice Framework Permanency Hearings at 12 months TPR for Children in Care 15 out of last 22 months Time Limited Reunification Services Expanded Health Care Coverage Incentive Payments to States Post Adoption Services

Success Redefined Permanency vs. Reunification Kinship as Family Preservation Foster Parents as Collaborators Permanency Goal as part of Case Plan Full Disclosure/Inclusion Matching Families, Continued Involvement Giving Up Control

Treatment Plans Reasonable Efforts Comprehensive Phased In/Tiered Immediate Access Collaboration With Service Providers Measurable Criteria of Success Full Disclosure

Training Use of a Team Cultural Competence Multiple Training Options Mandatory Pre-Assessment & Screening War Stories/Reality Presentation of Specific Children Transfer of Agency Philosophy

Support Support Groups Foster Parent Mentors/Buddy System Home Visitation Hot Line Flexible Funding/ Higher Rates/ Day Care Involvement With Birth Family, Volunteers, Other Professionals

TREATMENT PLAN OBJECTIVES –What change is desired? –Outcome to be achieved based on needs assessment. –Must address areas necessitating agency involvement.

TREATMENT PLAN ACTION STEPS –Date by which task must be completed –Compliance and/or attendance rate –Frequency service is provided –Name of service provider –Responsibility for fees/costs for service

TREATMENT PLAN Measurement of Success –Demonstrates accomplishment of objective CHANGES that are: –DEMONSTRABLE –QUALITATIVE –BEHAVIORAL

PURPOSE OF KINSHIP CARE Enable children to live with persons they know & trust Reduce trauma they may experience when they are placed with strangers. Reinforce their sense of identity & self-esteem from knowing their family’s history & culture Facilitate connections to their siblings Encourage family to rely on their own family members Enhance children’s connection to family and community. Strengthen the ability of families to give children the support they need. Avoids pitfalls of trans-racial or trans-ethnic placement.

KINSHIP CARE Kinship Care Is the full time nurturing and protection of children by kin. Kin are relatives or persons ascribed by the family as having a family-like relationship. These relationships take into account cultural values and continuity of significant relationships.

Recognizing the Clues Statements regarding relinquishment Considered abortion of this child Previous relinquishments/abortion Statements as to not wanting to/being incapable of parenting Negative statements about a particular child Outside pressure Desire to parent is a projection Inconsistent attendance at visits

Exploring, Sorting Out the Clues Giving up your own biases,give permission Respect and Control Relationship between birth and foster parent Explore fantasies/fears Explore wishes for child and their ability to meet them FGDM, Mediation, Options Counseling Different outcomes for siblings Shared goal

Resolution, follow through Respect and control remain paramount Education regarding consequences Open adoption agreement Consultation with attorney Hearing in a timely manner Parent should give child permission to move on

Recruitment MEDIA/Community Education Specialized Higher Standards/Expectations/Uniform Assessment Red Flags/Chart Disruptions Support/Training Inclusion/Continued Involvement Rate Adjustments Cyclical/Repetitive/Word of Mouth

Red Flags Unresolved Losses/Infertility Issues “Desperate” for a Child Power & Control Issues Lack of Commitment Within the Couple Lack of Parenting Experience/Knowledge/Skills Unrealistic Expectations Looking for a Companion for Birth Child Inability to Ask for Help

Positive Characteristics (con’t) Patience Lack of Ego Involvement High Energy Level Ability to Role Model

Red Flags (con’t) Lifestyle Which Does Not Accommodate Children Unfinished Childhood Issues/Childhood Issues Similar to Child Placed Lack of Support from Family/Friends Lack of Community Resources Poor Problem Solving and/or Coping Skills

Positive Characteristics Flexibility Empathy Satisfaction In Life Resourceful Sense of Humor Tolerance of Loss Altruistic CONCURRENT PERMANENCY PLANNING DEFINED WHAT IS CONCURRENT PERMANENCY PLANNING? <WORKING TOWARDS REUNIFICATION WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ESTABLISHING AN ALTERNATIVE PERMANENCY PLAN <CONCURRENT RATHER THAN SEQUENTIAL PLANNING EFFORTS TO MORE QUICKLY MOVE CHILDREN FROM THE UNCERTAINTY OF FOSTER CARE TO THE SECURITY OF A PERMANENT FAMILY WHAT ARE THE GOALS? <TO SUPPORT THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES <TO PROMOTE EARLY PERMANENCY DECISIONS FOR CHILDREN <TO DECREASE CHILDREN’S LENGTH OF STAY IN FOSTER CARE <TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MOVES AND RELATIONSHIP DISRUPTIONS CHILDREN EXPERIENCE IN FOSTER CARE <TO DEVELOP A NETWORK OF FOSTER PARENTS (RELATIVES OR NON-RELATIVES) WHO CAN WORK TOWARDS REUNIFICATION AND ALSO SERVE AS PERMANENCY RESOURCE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN <TO ENGAGE FAMILIES IN EARLY CASE PLANNING, CASE REVIEW AND DECISION- MAKING ABOUT PERMANENCY OPTIONS TO MEET CHILDREN’S URGENT NEED FOR STABILITY AND CONTINUITY IN THEIR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS <TO MAINTAIN CONTINUITY IN CHILDREN’S FAMILY, SIBLING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS –POOL OF FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES NEEDED TODAY  Relatives and Non-Relatives  Emergency Care Foster Families  Temporary Care Foster Families  Therapeutic/Treatment Foster Families  Resource Families for Foster Care/Adoption  Adoptive Families

Red Flags (con’t) Lifestyle Which Does Not Accommodate Children Unfinished Childhood Issues/Childhood Issues Similar to Child Placed Lack of Support from Family/Friends Lack of Community Resources Poor Problem Solving and/or Coping Skills

Positive Characteristics CONCURRENT PERMANENCY PLANNING DEFINED WHAT IS CONCURRENT PERMANENCY PLANNING? <WORKING TOWARDS REUNIFICATION WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ESTABLISHING AN ALTERNATIVE PERMANENCY PLAN <CONCURRENT RATHER THAN SEQUENTIAL PLANNING EFFORTS TO MORE QUICKLY MOVE CHILDREN FROM THE UNCERTAINTY OF FOSTER CARE TO THE SECURITY OF A PERMANENT FAMILY WHAT ARE THE GOALS? <TO SUPPORT THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES <TO PROMOTE EARLY PERMANENCY DECISIONS FOR CHILDREN <TO DECREASE CHILDREN’S LENGTH OF STAY IN FOSTER CARE <TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MOVES AND RELATIONSHIP DISRUPTIONS CHILDREN EXPERIENCE IN FOSTER CARE <TO DEVELOP A NETWORK OF FOSTER PARENTS (RELATIVES OR NON-RELATIVES) WHO CAN WORK TOWARDS REUNIFICATION AND ALSO SERVE AS PERMANENCY RESOURCE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN <TO ENGAGE FAMILIES IN EARLY CASE PLANNING, CASE REVIEW AND DECISION- MAKING ABOUT PERMANENCY OPTIONS TO MEET CHILDREN’S URGENT NEED FOR STABILITY AND CONTINUITY IN THEIR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS <TO MAINTAIN CONTINUITY IN CHILDREN’S FAMILY, SIBLING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS –POOL OF FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES NEEDED TODAY  Relatives and Non-Relatives  Emergency Care Foster Families  Temporary Care Foster Families  Therapeutic/Treatment Foster Families  Resource Families for Foster Care/Adoption  Adoptive Families