What does Permanency look like?
We define permanency as a safe, stable, emotionally-secure parenting relationship, ideally one that is legally recognized.
Our primary objective is for youth in our care leave to a safe, stable, emotionally secure parenting relationship.
Why is Permanency important?
A youth.gov summary of foster care youth data highlights the life-long impacts that trauma and disruptive events have. Youth who age out of foster care without a permanent family or support network are more likely to face:
- Unstable housing or homelessness
- Lack of secondary or post-secondary education
- Limited work experience and opportunities
- Higher incidence of both physical and behavioral health problems
- Increased likelihood of court involvement stemming from all the above challenges
Relational Permanency is a Safe, Stable, Emotionally-Secure Parenting Relationship
Physically and Psychologically safe
Unconditionally committed regardless of youth’s behavior or the adult’s/family’s changing circumstance
Consistent, continuous, meant to go on indefinitely
One in which the youth feels belonging and acceptance
How do we do it? Proven Permanency Practices
Plummer combines three nationally-recognized best practices for all youth in our services, regardless of age or circumstance:
Family Search and Engagement
On average, and too often, by the time young people arrive at Plummer, they have spent more than 2,500 days in the system. We find and engage parents and family members to decrease loneliness, strengthen identity and belonging, increase family networks, and develop a safe, emotionally secure, permanent parenting relationships.
Youth-Guided, Family-Driven Teaming
It is critical youth participate and actively guide planning for family relationships and their future. Plummer helps them build a team that includes parents, relatives, caring adults, as well as professionals. Our teaming approach addresses all areas of youth safety, permanency, and well-being, and it aims to build a network of lifelong relationships that continue after the youth exits the system. By building a bench of teammates (especially unpaid team members), we can identify roles and set expectations that create a network around youth.
Permanency Readiness
Youth who have spent the majority of their childhood in the foster care system often think they do not want or need a family. So just getting a young person comfortable with the idea of family is a big hurdle. Next, we must prepare a youth and a family to live together, which requires practice, role-playing, and setting fair expectations for all. Practicing being a family is essential to achieving long-term results.
“The single most common factor for children who end up doing well is having the support of at least one stable and committed relationship with a parent, caregiver, or other adult.”
– The Harvard Center on the Developing Child
