Permanency Tip of the Week: Is the Family Ready for Permanency?
When we are active in the Permanency process (which should be all the time), a lot of our focus understandably is on preparing the Youth. As much time, effort and focus needs to also be directed to the new family. Some of the questions to ask ourselves and the family include: 1) How successful have they been in navigating the ups and downs of engaging and working with the youth? 2) Are they verbally and / or non-verbally expressing some ”Cold Feet?” – If yes – this is NORMAL and should be honored, validated and processed. 3) Is everyone saying that everything is “100% awesome with no problems?” – If yes – I would be a little cautious that something is not being expressed by someone / everyone. There is likely to never be “Perfect” time to finalize the Permanency and thus we should not wait for this to occur. At the same time, if there are fundamental concerns held by anyone involved, these need to be addressed ASAP.
Permanency Story of the Week: Gymnast Simone Biles Vaulted Through Foster Care to Success
If you’re not a sports enthusiast you may not know the name Simone Biles…Simone’s personal life has been one of inspiration. Entering foster care at a young age, Simone and her siblings were adopted by their maternal grandparents. Ron and Nellie Biles are modest when speaking of their role in helping their children excel. But Simone attributes her success to the wonderful parents who have supported her throughout her life.
Current Permanency Related Articles:
Child Welfare – Keeping Children with Kin
Child Trends – Over the past two decades, there’s been increased federal and state emphasis on family involvement in child welfare agency policies and practices. This brief explores the practice of “kinship diversion,” in which children are placed with relatives as an alternative to foster care. We examined kinship diversion in one state, interviewing caseworkers, families, and court personnel to find out how the practice works, and what support kinship caregivers need.
Assessing Families’ Need for Support in Adoptive, Foster, and Kinship Placements
This survey is for adoptive, foster, and kinship care parents to complete to provide information States, Territories, and Tribes can use to determine what services families would need to meet the needs of their children and family. Parents should fill out the survey based on the needs of their family, taking into consideration all of their adopted children or children in foster or kinship care.
Supporting Resource Parents in Promoting Normalcy for Youth in Care
The federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014 includes a provision that promotes well-being and normalcy for youth in foster care by allowing caregivers and foster parents to use the reasonable and prudent parent standard to make day-to-day decisions that enable youth to participate in normal, age-appropriate activities. Child Welfare Information Gateway’s new “normalcy for youth in foster care” web page provides resources that help professionals and caregivers support and promote typical childhood experiences for youth in foster care.
Feds Announce Funding to Serve LGBTQ Homeless Youth & Former Foster Youth
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has announced a 24-month special population demonstration project funded through the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Transitional Living Program that will target Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Questioning (LGBTQ) runaway and homeless youth, in addition to former foster youth age 18 to 21. ACF will provide an estimated total of $5 million of funding to eight grantees, each awarded between $250,000 to $625,000 to implement, enhance, and/or support a framework or model that incorporates promising strategies for the effective transition of homeless youth and/or young adults to self-sufficiency. Eligible applicants are states, localities and private entities (eligible community- and faith-based organizations). Applications are due August 1, 2016. To view the funding opportunity or learn more about the demonstration project, follow this LINK.
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Releases Enhanced Resource Guidelines
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) has announced the release of the Enhancedversion of the Resource Guidelines to improve court practice in child abuse and neglect cases, 20 years after the original publication. “The Enhanced Resource Guidelines will serve as the NCJFCJ’s blueprint for training on child abuse and neglect practices, and is monumental in shaping the way courts handle cases to best serve the children and families involved in the court system,” said Melissa Gueller, NCJFCJ program director for child abuse and neglect.
Art Is an Umbrella, Shielding Youth in Stormy Times
Chronic of Social Change – Many believe art is the most effective form of therapy. Art therapy not only helps release visuals of a horrific past, it releases the soul to become free of all hurt, pain and regret that we let hold us down. It gives you control of your own life and imagination even if it’s just for a few hours.
A youth who has experienced trauma may not know how to articulate their feelings to a therapist because of a defense mechanism we develop at a very young age not to trust anyone. Through art – no matter the form – you identify the root of your pain. Writing is a good example: When you write, things come out that you didn’t know were there, and you begin to reflect on those issues, and some sort of healing begins to take place.