Partnering With Youth for Permanency Planning

Children and youth in out-of-home care should be as fully involved in permanency planning as possible. Discussing permanency options, explaining the processes, and helping children and youth work through their emotions are activities that can help prepare and support them in achieving permanency. This section includes resources to help caseworkers prepare children and youth for permanency, particularly adoption, and offers strategies that help engage youth throughout the process.


A Framework for Effectively Partnering with Young People = .75 Hr

 

A Framework for Effectively Partnering with Young People

 

By the Annie E. Casey Foundation

November 5, 2019

 

In This Guide on Authentic Youth Engagement, You'll Learn

  • The four components of authentic youth engagement.
  • How to assess the four components of authentic youth engagement.
  • The benefits of authentic youth engagement.
  • Where to learn more about supporting youth-adult partnerships.

Summary

This guide explores authentic youth engagement, including how it benefits young people, why it works and what it looks like in real life.

Key Takeaway

Remodeling underway: adolescent experiences can fuel extensive changes in a person’s brain

The practice of authentic youth engagement utilizes emerging research on adolescent brain development. It considers trauma’s impact on the brain, how the brain heals and the role that experiential learning plays in helping youth grow.

Findings & Stats

Building Blocks

The Casey Foundation's approach to authentic youth engagement includes four components: 1) youth-adult partnerships; 2) preparation; 3) opportunity; and 4) support.

The Engagement Advantage

Authentically engaging young people helps build their self-esteem, leadership, advocacy and professional development skills while also increasing their influence and personal stake in the community.

Partnerships in Action

Examples of youth-adult partnerships include working together to develop case plans; co-designing and facilitating trainings to educate child welfare professionals; and co-presenting resources and information to community partners.

Statements & Quotations

When young people are authentically engaged, they should feel heard, respected, valued, trusted, appreciated, safe and comfortable.

Through this signature practice, young people use their individual and collective power and expertise in helping to shape a better future for those in and transitioning from foster care into adulthood.

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Authentic Relationships Matter Most: A New Model for Permanency - Pilot Study Findings = 1.25 Hrs

Authentic Relationships Matter Most: A New Model for Permanency - Pilot Study 

Faulkner, Belseth, Adkins, & Perez (2018)

Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing

34 Pgs, pdf

Provides an overview of legal permanency for children in foster care and describes a model that helps give youth what they need to succeed in adulthood. 

PODCAST: Aging Out – Healing, Preparing, and Supporting Youth in Foster Care, Part 1 = .75 Hrs

Thousands of youth graduate from high school or reach the age of maturity while still in the foster care system. Many of these youth “age out” of the system with little or no connection to family or supportive adults and face the potential of poor life prospects. Foster care alumni face high rates of homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, and lack of access to health care.


PODCAST: Aging Out – Healing, Preparing, and Supporting Youth in Foster Care, Part 2 = .75 Hrs

Thousands of youth graduate from high school or reach the age of maturity while still in the foster care system. Many of these youth “age out” of the system with little or no connection to family or supportive adults and face the potential of poor life prospects. Foster care alumni face high rates of homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, and lack of access to health care.


Promoting Supportive, Lasting Adult Connections for Older Youth in Foster Care = .75 Hrs

Promoting Supportive, Lasting Adult Connections for Older Youth in Foster Care: Good Shepherd Services' Permanency Pact Program

12 Pgs, pdf

Good Shepherd Services, Redlich Horwitz Foundation (2018) 

Highlights permanency pacts, which can be used to increase permanency by strengthening and formalizing existing relationships between a youth and a close adult. The paper provides an overview of the importance of having a supportive relationship with caring adults and existing efforts to support older youth as they transition to adulthood.

Tribal Leadership Series: Youth Engagement = .75 Hrs

Provides information for Tribal leaders on how to engage youth. The brief discusses the importance of youth engagement and the practices and tools to support it.

Youth and Credit: Protecting the Credit of Youth in Foster Care - 2 Hrs