Vol. 3, No. 2 • Spring 1999

What Does North Carolina's Focus on Permanence Mean for Foster Parents?

Every child deserves a loving, nurturing, permanent family. This simple�some might say obvious�belief in each child�s right to a permanent family is the driving force behind changes that are happening in foster care in North Carolina today, changes that will have a significant impact on foster parents. Emphasizing permanence Of course, this belief in the importance of permanence is not really a new idea. It is why we have a child welfare system in the first place, and it is the reason so many foster and adoptive parents and social workers do what they do. Yet somehow our belief in the importance of permanence has not always been reflected in what happens to children in foster care.

Historically, many children have lingered in foster care for years without a permanent home. Some of these kids spend years moving from placement to placement; some never achieve permanency. This experience only compounds the hurt of the abuse or neglect that brought them into care in the first place, leaving children feeling unloved, unwanted, and damaged.

To correct this situation, North Carolina is now engaged in an effort to bring the idea of permanence to the forefront of child welfare practice. This effort really began in 1994, when North Carolina was selected to be one of the sites for Families for Kids, a national initiative sponsored by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Piloted for three years in eight counties (Buncombe, Catawba, Cleveland, Edgecombe, Guilford, Iredell, Richmond, and Wayne), Families for Kids challenged communities and county departments of social services to accept and work toward five goals:

1. Community-based support for families in crisis.

2. One coordinated assessment process for each family.

3. One case worker or case work team for each family.

4. One stable foster care placement for every child.

5. A permanent home for every child within one year.

Guided by these goals, DSS�s in these eight counties took a hard look at the way they did business and made changes that dramatically improved outcomes for the children in foster care. For example, these agencies reallocated resources to increase the number of children being adopted. At the same time, they increased support for families in crisis, reducing the number of children entering foster care in the first place. The bottom line is that, thanks to Families for Kids and the five goals, more children in these counties are living in safe, permanent homes.

Inspired by these results, the NC Division of Social Services adopted the initiative�s five goals as the primary goals for children�s services in all of North Carolina. The Division also expanded Families for Kids to an additional 12 counties, bringing the number of counties touched by the initiative to 20. And, since 1997 the Division has also issued a �Challenge for Children� to county DSS�s, asking them to make a special effort to embrace the five Families for Kids goals to ensure that children have safe, permanent homes within one year of entering the foster care system. In 1998, seventy-six of North Carolina�s 100 counties accepted the challenge.

What does this mean for foster parents?
Because county DSS�s have a lot of latitude in how they choose to respond to North Carolina�s five children�s services goals, foster parents will feel the effects of this new emphasis on permanence in different ways. It might prove helpful, however, to look at the goals that relate most directly to foster care and at the strategies and terms used by Families for Kids counties.*

Goal: One single, stable foster care placement
Having a single, stable foster care placement gives a child a sense of belonging, stability, and support. A single placement benefits others as well. When they know their child is adjusted and feels secure in his placement, birth families have an easier time moving on to the work of reunification. This is especially true when they know and have a relationship with their child�s foster parents. Families for Kids counties found that when foster parents and birth parents develop relationships, foster parents are better able to support birth families in reunification efforts and to advocate for their foster children.

In its effort to guarantee a single placement for each foster child, you may find your county:

Strengthening and partnering with foster parent associations. County agencies are realizing that foster parent associations can offer emotional support for foster parents facing challenges with their children, provide a forum for additional foster parent training, and promote working, collaborative partnerships among DSS, foster parents, and birth families. When foster parents feel supported, they are better able to meet the needs of their foster children and more likely to continue fostering.

Stepping up efforts to support and nurture foster parents. Counties are trying to find ways to prevent placement disruptions by providing foster parents with things such as respite services or intensive individual consultation and training.

Recruiting and training foster parents. To guarantee that each child has only one placement, agencies need to be able to match each child with a compatible, trained foster parent for the child�s initial placement. To make this possible, agencies need an adequate number of foster parents to choose from. Many counties are working with their local foster parent association to recruit and train new foster parents.

Providing additional support to foster children. Some Families for Kids counties have developed strategies that target children at risk of multiple foster care placements and offer them counseling, intensive crisis support, and mentoring.

Goal: A permanent home for every child within one year
A child�s sense of time is far different from an adult�s�to an eight-year-old, a year is an eternity! Keeping children in DSS custody longer than a year only adds to a child�s pain and sense of isolation. No child should have to wait years to find a permanent family who will love and nurture her.

In its effort to meet the goal of permanence within one year, your county may be:

Recruiting foster parents who are willing to adopt. Most Families for Kids counties are actively recruiting foster parents who will consider adopting children placed in their homes. This is a dramatic change for some counties, where previously foster parents were discouraged from doing this.

Term: Concurrent planning
North Carolina�s focus on permanency has also led it to mandate concurrent planning for every child who has been abused or neglected. When a child enters foster care, the primary plan is still usually reunification with the child�s family. But in concurrent planning, the social worker must also work with the child�s family to develop at least one alternative permanency plan as soon as the child comes into DSS custody. This plan can include adoption, legal guardianship, or legal custody with a relative. If a judge ultimately determines that reunification is not possible, the alternative plan already in place is implemented.

Concurrent planning keeps everyone focused on safety and permanence for the child, while at the same time helping that child move toward a permanent placement in a shorter time frame. If you do not know what the alternate plan is for your foster child, ask the child�s social worker. It makes sense for you to know, as it will be part of your job as a foster parent to support this child as he moves toward his permanent home, whether it be through reunification, adoption, or placement with a relative.

Conclusion
The concept of permanency is not new, but in the months and years ahead it will bring changes to the child welfare system in North Carolina. As with any form of change, there will be some �bumps� along the way. When these occur, it may prove helpful to keep your eyes on the one thing on which we all agree: Every child deserves a loving, nurturing, permanent family.

Copyright � 2000 Jordan Institute for Families