Permanency Tip of the Week: Permanency’s Impact on Development
When we look at Permanency’s impact on development, we often focus on the positive long-term improvement in overall levels of social, emotional and behavioral functioning. While this is often the case, due in part to the increased level of emotional safety that the Youth feels as a result of the Permanency, the introduction of a Permanent connection may in fact be associated initially with some degree of regression in functioning. This regression can be considered both normal (Permanency is a significant life change) and helpful (the regression allows the caregiver to meet the Youth’s needs at an earlier stage thus strengthening the relationship). Working with both the Permanent connections and the Youth to anticipate and respond to this aspect of Permanency is important.
Permanency Story of the Week: Julie – Adopted Just Before Her 18th Birthday
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption – Wednesday’s Child – All it took was one feature on Wednesday’s Child for the right family to see Julie, inquire about her, and, just a year later, Julie’s adoption is now final. She is officially a member of the Coley clan! Larry and Letetia Coley were not considering adopting a child when they happened to come across Julie’s segment on Wednesday’s Child. “There was something very special about this shy teenager,” said Letetia. “I inquired that night after speaking with Larry. I think we were the first to inquire about her.” Letetia was adopted from Korea as an infant so her and Julie share a special cultural bond…
Current Permanency related articles:
UCLA NFRC Celebrates Launch of Free App – FOCUS on Foster Families
UCLA Nathanson Family Resilience Center celebrated the launch of FOCUS on Foster Families – the newest mobile resource application based on the FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress) Family Resilience Training Model. It was developed by the team at the UCLA NFRC, with support from the Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation. Designed for foster/adoptive families and youth, this free app aims to provide support for youth and those who care for them in the form of video interviews, skill-building games, and access to downloadable PDFs to help promote resilience in the face of challenges.
New Study Offers Alternatives to Congregate Care
The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released the report “Every Kid Needs A Family,” which offers findings on the benefits of placing children in the child welfare system with family members or foster families instead of in congregate care placements. The central focus of this report is on the nearly 57,000 children and teenagers in the child welfare system currently living in group placements and residential treatment facilities.
Getting foster youth through college will take structured support, study concludes
The college graduation rate for students who have lived in foster care is 3 percent, among the lowest of any demographic group in the country. And this rate is unlikely to improve unless community colleges institute formal programs to assist foster youth both financially and academically, concludes a new study. “Informal programs are less likely to work since foster youth lack guidance and have learned to rely on structured institutional programs,” said study co-author Melinda Westland, a graduate student at University of the Pacific’s Gladys L. Benerd School of Education. “Simply having a dedicated person whom foster youth can go to and ask questions — something many of these young people have never had — could really make a difference to their college success,” she added.
Musings of a Birthmom – “I never know what to say when someone asks me how many brothers or sisters I have.” This came out of my 12-year-old’s mouth while I was driving the other day. There was no warning for a statement such as this. No conversation that I can think of that brought it on. We were listening to the radio and she just blurted it out. It caught me off guard and I wasn’t really sure what to say. I have tried my best not to shroud in secrecy that her father and I relinquished the daughter that came before her. I would never want to give any of my children the impression that her sister is someone we should be ashamed of or someone who should be kept secret…
Angel Enters Foster Care through Probation’s Door
The Chronicle of Social Change – California’s probation system is one of a number across the country that use federal foster care funds to take care of kids like Angel who enter juvenile justice but have no safe home to serve out their probation terms, so are placed in group homes. With the federal dollars come strings, along with memorandums of understanding spelling out for all 58 counties that their juvenile probation departments must provide case management like the foster care system would.
NACAC Conference – July 2015 in Long Beach, CA
The North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) conference will be held in Long Beach, California, from July 29 to August 1. Dan Siegel, M.D., will present a preconference session, “Mindsight and Healing Trauma,” and offer the opening keynote session. Other presenters include the acclaimed Denise Goodman, Ruth McRoy, Pat O’Brien, and many more. We encourage you to share information about the conference with adoption professionals, adoptive and foster parents, and others interested in learning more about key topics in child welfare.