Permanency is Possible!Promoting Permanency in Challenging Cases

Mission StatementTo promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family.Childrens Home Society of NC

Learning ObjectivesDefine physical, emotional, and legal permanenceUnderstand the importance of a Permanency is Possible mindsetLearn how programs such as Family Finding and Child Specific Recruitment have created permanency options in impossible casesLearn questions to ask to help move the case toward permanency

Defining PermanenceLegal Emotional Relational

RelationshipsHealthy development depends on the quality and reliability of a young childs relationships with the important people in his or her life, both within and outside the family. Even the development of a childs brain architecture depends on the establishment of these relationships. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

1. Berscheid, E., & Reis, H.T. (1998). Attraction and close relationships. In D.T. Gilbert, S.T. Fiske, & G. Lindzey (Eds.), Handbook of social psychology, Vol. 1 (2nd Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. 2. Collins, W.A., & Laursen, B. (1999). Relationships as developmental contexts. The Minnesota Symposia on Child Psychology, Vol. 30. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 3. Dunn, J. (1993). Young childrens close relationships: Beyond attachment. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. 4. Reis, H.T., Collins,W.A. & Berscheid, E. (2000). Relationships in human behavior and development. Psychological Bulletin, 126(6), 844-872. 5. Dawson, D. , & Fischer, K.W. (Eds.) (1994). Human behavior and the developing brain. New York: Guilford Press. 6. Panksep, J. (1998). Affective neuroscience. New York: Oxford.

Permanence is based onIntentUnconditional commitmentLifelong, mutual support and involvementIntimacy and belonging

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

The Hazards of Aging Out Without Permanence

Aging Out of Foster CareIn one national study reported by Child Trends, 38% of youth aging out of foster care had emotional problems50% had used illegal drugs25% were involved with the legal systemOnly 48% had graduated from high schoolOnly 54% had graduated from high school two to four years after discharge

AdulthoodAs adults, children who spent long periods of time in multiple foster care homes were more likely than others to encounter problems such as unemployment, homelessness, and incarceration, as well as to experience early pregnancy.

* Child Trends (2012). Foster Care. Retrieved from www.childtrendsdatabank.org/?q=node/199.

Permanence for all youthCommon characteristics of cases in which permanence seems impossible.

significant behavioral issuesmedical issuesdevelopmental disabilityhistory of sexual abuse or perpetrationteenssibling groupsno family

Impossible? Case study: Jose

Developing the Mindset

Permanency is Possible MindsetGrounded in realityInfused with hopeCultivated with intention

5 Building Blocks Consider biases and myths.

The child is better off away from family.The apple doesnt fall far from the tree.There is no family.The child doesnt want family.The child doesnt want to be adopted.

5 Building BlocksRecognize that people can change.View barriers as hurdles, not walls.Refuse to give up.Be a bearer of hope - hope is contagious!

People say kids my age are hard to place and that time is running out for me. Please dont give up on trying. Im already having trouble holding on to my hope.

A Permanency ToolkitLegislation that supports the workThe Fostering Connections to Success And Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act of 2011NC LINKS programA Family For Every Child InitiativeAdoption Promotion FundPermanency Innovation InitiativeOversight Committee

Talk with the youthDont assume someone else has asked the questionsMake sure youth understands the optionsUse the right languageIts never too late to talk about familyUnlocking the no of permanencyA Permanency Toolkit

Questions to askLegal permanenceHas the child been asked what his/her placement preference is? Ask the parents and child, in a developmentally appropriate manner, to identify relatives and possible placement and family resources.Have both paternal and maternal relatives been identified and notified?

Permanency Toolkit

Questions to askEmotional/Relational permanenceAsk the child about family members and other significant adults who are important, or who have been important to the youth in the past.Does the child have contact with siblings and other family members? What can be done to enhance the childs connections?

Permanency Toolkit

Foster Care Childrens Bill of RightsCommunicationCollaborationBecome a permanency expert!Adoption resourcesWendys Wonderful Kids/CSRFamily Finding

Permanency Toolkit

Child Specific RecruitmentWendys Wonderful Kids modelReferred children those who have been waiting the longest, 50% have been in foster care more than 4 years70% older than age 830% have had six or more placements9583 served nationally, 6295 have been matched and 3660 have finalized adoptions.

Child Specific RecruitmentChildrens Home Society 8 year partnership with 24 DSS countiesSince 2006, 367 children have been served 50% of those children have been adopted or are currently matched with an adoptive family.

Family FindingA model developed by Kevin Campbell in the mid 1990s that offers methods and strategies (in six steps) to locate and engage family members of children living in out of home care.

The goal of Family Finding is to provide each youth with the lifelong connections that only a family can offer.

History of Family FindingCame about as a result of Kevin Campbells work with elderly adults at Catholic Social Services in Washington StateHe searched for an analog on which to base his model an organization that successfully works with large numbers of people the International Committee of the Red Cross (food, shelter, medicine, family connections)

Core BeliefsCore beliefs inherent in this approach are:Every child has a family.Loneliness can be devastating and particularly felt by foster children.Meaningful connections to family help a child develop a sense of belonging.The single most identified factor contributing to positive outcomes for children involves meaningful connections and lifelong relationships.

Family Finding ValuesSafetyRethinking FamilyPermanenceRestoration of DignityCollaboration

Family Finding in North Carolina

CHS Family Finding Pilot Project July 2008 June 2011

CHS provided Family Finding services in three North Carolina counties from 2008-2011 through the pilot project funded by the Duke Endowment.

Served Since July 200888Number of Known Relatives/Resources at Referral8Number of Current Connections at Referral3Relatives/Resources Discovered during Family Finding59% of Cases with Relatives/Resources Committing to Ongoing Relationships86%% of Cases with Relatives/Resources Committing to Adoption or Guardianship52%

Family Finding at CHSJuly 2011-June 2014Edna McConnell Clark Foundation is providing funding for three years targeting Family Finding program expansion. The Social Innovation Fund and Duke Endowment are also funding partners.CHS uses a specialized worker model, employing skilled professionals whose sole responsibility is Family Finding.5-7 cases per worker (may include sibling groups).The time frame for each case is 3-5 months, although it may take longer.

The Six Step ModelDiscoveryEngagementPlanning Decision MakingEvaluationFollow Up Supports

A Tale of Three Teens

Case StudyThe Triplets:

Andria: first born Audry: second bornAndrae: third born In foster care since March 2008 Living at a residential care facility at referralFamily Finding occurred June October 2009

Steps 1 & 2: Discovery and EngagementInitial interview with DSS Social WorkerIdentified 12 known relatives / adult connections.Initial meeting with the youth (as a group, and individually)Identified several additional relatives, some deceased, most last names unknown.Reviewed the DSS case fileConducted Internet searches Filmed of the Family Finding Chronicle VideoCalls / visits / letters to known connections to continue to answer the question How big is the family tree?

Step 3: PlanningGOAL of the Blended Perspectives Meeting: Focus on the emotional state of each youth resulting from lack of family connectedness and the need for acceptance, safety, and committed unconditional love.

Five Attendees: Two Maternal Aunts, Maternal First Cousin, Paternal Grandmother, Paternal Great Aunt.Update from the social workerViewed Family Finding Chronicle VideoFamily Strengths, Youths Strengths, Youths NeedsGreatest Unmet Needs Statement: We believe that the youth need non-judgmental, supportive family that will love and support them unconditionally.

Step 4: Decision MakingGOAL of the Decision Making Meeting: To discuss ways in terms of unconditional committed love, acceptance and safety, each family member plans to continuously and consistently participate in the siblings lives and support other family members commitments.

Reviewed the Family Strengths, Unmet Needs, and the Greatest Unmet Needs Statement.Identified a Family LeaderIdentified Legal and Relational Permanency PlansPlanned a Sweet 16 birthday celebration!

Steps 5 & 6: Evaluation and Follow-up SupportsThe team will have supported the child and their family to plan for and access essential formal and informal supports. Maternal Aunt as a legal caregiverAccess to therapy to address grief and loss, healthy eating habits and anger management.

The team will emphasize natural and community supports that are the most normative and enduring. Continued family gatherings and opportunities to build relationships with family membersFamily Team Leader included in CFT and other important team meetings

OverviewTotal # of known relatives or other resources at referral: 12Total # of known relatives/resources with current connections at referral: 5 Total # of relatives/resources discovered during Family Finding 81Total # of relatives resources stating commitment to ongoing connectedness: 9 Total # of relatives/resources interested in being considered for permanency: 3

RememberPermanency is Possible!

Permanency ResourcesChildrens Home Society 1-800-632-1400 Family Engagement and Permanency Services training

www.familyfinding.orgKevin Campbell, Founder - National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness

Thank You

Professional Training TeamChildrens Home Society (800) 632-1400bdelaet@chsnc.orgmcalvert@chsnc.org

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