You might hear the word “permanency” from your caseworker, your transition worker, your GAL or CASA, or during your family team meeting
Your voice is very important in developing what you want permanency to look like for you. You are the best source of information in knowing who you want in your life and who you can rely on.
Young people have written this definition to help other young people and adults to understand what permanency can mean and look like for each individual person.
Permanency is a safe, committed, loving relationship that is intended to last forever between a young person and an adult. This can include birth family, extended kin, friends, foster and adoptive parents and/or other caring adults identified by the youth.
This is a relationship where the young person receives:
- Consistent emotional support,
- Nurturing and acceptance based on trust and respect,
- The physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of the young person,
- Legal rights and social status of full family membership.
A permanency plan includes supporting lifelong connections with a young person’s extended family, siblings and other significant relationships in their life. Please work with your support team to talk about the people in your life who are important to you and you want as part of your permanency plan.
FosterClub, the national network for young people in foster care, has a ‘Permanency Pact’ that has helpful resources and questions that may help you in creating your plan. https://www.fosterclub.com/_transition/article/permanency-pact
Remember… Permanency is not just a process, a plan, a foster care placement or a family relationship that lasts only until you turn age 18, but should be about finding and supporting life-long family connections.