Permanency Tip of the Week: Permanency Centered Goals – Mental Health
Permanency centered goals in Mental Health can help ensure that every decision we make regarding status, placement, and actions involving our Youth has Permanency as the foundation. One of the most critical principles is that we must never hold out on bring increased Permanency into our Youth’s life until the youth’s mental health improves. Instead, we must bring increased Permanency into our Youth’s life in order that their mental health can start to improve. Examples of these goals include: establishing and sustaining positive relationships, improving verbal and behavioral functioning in the context of relationships, and addressing/managing grief and loss issues. Our work in this area must be focused on the mental health needs of both the Youth and the Permanent connections.
Permanency Success Story of the Week: Go CJ!
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption – When CJ joined us, he was pretty small. For his first three years here, he didn’t grow much at all. I was starting to get a little worried. But then, once his behavior was really improved and he felt safe, he grew. I’m so delighted with how he’s thriving. At our last track meet, CJ ran the mile. And even though he was at least a lap behind the other racers, everyone in the stands and on the team was cheering for him. ‘Go CJ!’ That’s exactly what life is supposed to be about: cheering for the people who are trying their hardest. – Dee Marks
Permanency Related Articles:
Spotlight on National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Children’s Bureau Express – To break the cycle of child maltreatment and prevent the removal of children from their homes, it’s important to address the root causes of the problem and strengthen the resiliency of families. This month’s CBX spotlight is focused on primary prevention. We feature a message about the importance of primary prevention and articles on: the technology-assisted implementation of the SafeCare program; the first study to apply risk terrain modeling to the context of child maltreatment primary prevention efforts; an evidence-based child abuse prevention program, called The Period of PURPLE Crying; a suite of wide-ranging, evidence-based, and trauma-informed programs designed to replace abusive and neglectful parenting practices through primary prevention and the development of a positive and nurturing caregiving approach; and more.
Congress Affirms the Important Role of Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children
Medium – Generations United – Late last week, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, which was signed into law on March 23, 2018. The bill includes funding for critically important programs for the nearly 2.6 million grandparents raising grandchildren. More than 7 million children are being raised in kinship care, or “grandfamilies,” which are households headed by kin — a grandparent, great-grandparent, uncle, aunt or other relative who is not their birth parent. These grandparents and other relatives step in to provide safe and stable homes to children who cannot remain with their parents. The number of these families has recently increased, a phenomenon attributed to the opioid crisis.
Key points include: 1) Kinship Navigator Funds; 2) National Family Caregiver Support Program; 3) Adoption and Guardianship Incentives Program; 4) The Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act Passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent.
‘Does She Know Her Real Mom?’ The Complexities of Open Adoption
U.S. News and World Report – Health – When I tell people that we have an open adoption with my daughter’s biological family, they tend to widen their eyes. Sometimes people ask in a hesitant voice, “So, does she know who her real mom is?” There is so much to unpack in that one question! I usually smile and start with, “Well, I am her mom, and I’m definitely real. And she does also know ‘M,’ her biological mother.” It’s understandable that people are curious. After all, the definition of practicing an open adoption has as many interpretations as there are adoptive families.
Raise Awareness for Child Abuse Prevention All Year Long
Child Welfare Information Gateway – During April, we honor the dedicated professionals making meaningful and measurable changes in the lives of children, families, and communities. The 2018 NCAPM website has resources for professionals to promote prevention and provide support to children and families. This year’s focus is on keeping children safe and families strong in supportive communities. Resources include sample outreach materials , English and Spanish-language tip sheets for families, activity calendars, video stories, Protective Factors in Practices interactive scenarios, and the 2018 Prevention Resource Guide.
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) – According to the most recent Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) for Fiscal Year 2016, 92 percent of children adopted with public agency involvement received an adoption subsidy. Adoption assistance represents a key element of Federal and State policy to promote the adoption of children and youth from foster care and support adoptive families in meeting their needs.
Federal title IV-E or State subsidies aim to compensate adoptive parents for the short and long-term costs of adopting eligible children. Although eligibility criteria vary from State to State, the term “eligible” most frequently refers to children who are school-aged; part of a sibling group; children of color; or those with specific physical, emotional, or developmental needs. Benefits commonly include monthly cash payments, medical assistance, social services, and nonrecurring adoption expenses. The North American Council on Adoptable Children website provides an overview by State of basic adoption assistance rates as well as nonrecurring expenses, residential treatment, and subsidy available after age 18.
Adoption subsidies may not be the only type of funding available to families. Information Gateway’s section on Grants/Loans/Tax Credits for Adoption highlights other sources of financial assistance.
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Take care and keep up the Permanency work – Our children, youth, young adults, families
and communities are depending on it!