How Permanency Mediation Supports Child Welfare Professionals and Families
Plummer Youth Promise Permanency Mediation Services is accepting statewide referrals.
Permanency Mediation unites parents, family members, social workers, attorneys, and service providers in a non-adversarial process to resolve case-related issues and concerns.
Permanency Mediation is used when:
- A child’s situation is highly complex, and the goal is reunification; or
- A child’s goal is adoption or guardianship, and a parent’s right have not been terminated
When a child’s goal is still reunification, Permanency Mediation facilitates the work of a family consultation team and:
- Incorporates Concurrent Planning by addressing what needs to happen for a child to return home while simultaneously exploring an alternative permanent plan.
- Allows for participatory planning that honors the primary role played by a child’s family in decision-making.
When a child’s goal is adoption or guardianship, Permanency Mediation applies Cooperative Permanency Planning to avert the need for a trial to terminate parental rights:
- Works with attorneys and DCF staff to define a child’s specific needs
- Allows parents to plan for their child’s future even when they cannot be full-time parents.
- Facilitates relationship-building between parents and permanent parents by bringing them together to design a child-specific permanent plan for open adoption or guardianship.
How We Mediate
Plummer provides mediation in person when appropriate and conducts online mediation when necessary.
We currently have more than 30 mediators on our roster, all prepared to mediate in person and remotely. We are excited to provide both mediation options as we continue our work.
How to Make a Referral
- DCF referrals are made through the DCF social worker and area Lead Agency. No screening order is needed.
- Court referrals are currently accepted in Berkshire, Essex, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Worcester Counties.
- Referrals are all done through the court, by motion of a party on the Court’s own initiative.
- The Court will sign a Screening Order and have the parties complete an Intake Form.
- Both Screening Order and Intake Form will be forwarded to Plummer’s Permanency Mediation program through the court’s clerk’s office.
- Plummer will assign a permanency mediator.
Scroll down to access both DCF and Court intake referral forms.
Download A Guide Through the Process which describes how a Permanency Mediation intake referral is processed.
For more information, email PermMediation@plummeryouthpromise.org or call 978-219-5697
