Presented by Hill Country CASA PMC 201 Presented by Hill Country CASA

Permanency Planning Permanency refers to a child exiting from care into an appropriate, permanent setting. The ultimate goal is “positive permanency.” Positive permanency is when a child or youth exits to: Family reunification Adoption Permanent managing conservatorship to another individual. Planning for permanency begins the moment a child is removed from their home and placed in substitute care and does not end until a child exits CPS conservatorship, preferably to a permanent family setting.

Concurrent Permanency Planning Concurrent permanency planning is the process by which CPS pursues two different permanency goals simultaneously. Working on two potential outcomes at the same time allows the child to achieve positive permanency as quickly as possible. A child’s permanency plan includes concurrent permanency goals consisting of a primary permanency goal and at least one alternate permanency goal.

Working with the Family of Origin To the extent possible, CPS tries to keep or place each child with relatives or people the child has known all his or her life, rather than placing the child with strangers. To achieve permanency as quickly as possible all parties (to include CASA) collaborate, discuss, and recommend appropriate permanency options.

Factors to Consider When Planning Permanency In determining the best permanency goal for a child, the parties must consider the child’s best interest, long-term needs, and existing relationships, including the need for: Safety, permanency and well being An enduring and nurturing family relationship Life-long relationship and support from being part of a family unit Legal status that protects the child without CPS involvement

Prioritizing Permanency Goals Federal and state law outlines four permanency goals: Family reunification Adoption PMC to a relative or suitable individual Another planned permanent living arrangement

CPS Subdivision of PMC Goals The following list are the PMC goals in order of priority: Family Reunification Relative/Kinship Adoption Relative/Kinship conservatorship Unrelated adoption Unrelated conservatorship Foster Family with DFPS conservatorship Other family with DFPS conservatorship Community Care

Family Reunification Family reunification identifies a child’s own home as the safe and permanent living situation towards which services are directed. When family reunification is the permanency goal: Child/children have been removed from the home Services will be provided to the parents, child/children, and substitute caregivers Determination has been made that the parents are willing and after completing services are able to provide a safe living environment. Reunification may be with the parent from whom the child was removed or the parent who did not have custody at the time of removal.

Useful Factors to Consider With Goal of Reunification Factors to consider are: The child’s age and physical and mental vulnerabilities The frequency and nature of out of home placement The magnitude, frequency, and circumstances of the harm to the child Whether the child has been the victim of repeated harm after the initial report and intervention Whether the child is fearful of living in or returning home The results of psychiatric, psychological, or developmental evaluations of the child, the parents, other family members, or others who have access to the child Whether there is a history of abusive or assaultive conduct by the child’s family or others who have access to the child’s home

Factors Continued Whether there is a history of substance abuse by the parent’s or others who have access to the child’s home Whether the perpetrator of the harm to the child has been identified The willingness and ability of the child’s family to seek out, accept and complete counseling services and to cooperate with and facilitate an appropriate agency’s close supervision The willingness and ability of the parents to effect positive environmental and personal changes within a reasonable period of time Whether an adequate social support system is available to the child

Factors Continued Whether the parents demonstrate adequate parenting skills include: minimally adequate health and nutritional care guidance and supervision consistent with the child’s safety safe physical home protection from repeated exposure to violence even though the violence may not be directed at the child an understanding of the child’s needs and capabilities whether an adequate social support system consisting of extended family and friends is available to the child

Adoption A permanency goal of adoption indicates that: CPS removed the child from his or her home Family reunification was not appropriate Adoption is in the child’s best interest A safe and permanent family living arrangement has been sought or is being sought that is willing and able to protect the child, assume long term responsibility for the child, and adopt the child CPS provides services to the child and family where the child is placed until the case can be closed Following the consummation of an adoption, the adoptive parents become the parents of the child for all purposes

Adoption The adoption categories include: Relative/Kinship Adoption Unrelated adoption Adoption is the preferred permanency goal for all children who cannot be safely reunited with their family of origin. When selecting a goal of adoption, these must be considered: Child’s needs and wishes Extent of bonding and attachment to caregiver State and federal requirements related to placement with relatives Child’s need to maintain family connections Considerations related to child’s best interest

Adoption Vs Conservatorship The choice between adoption or conservatorship to a relative or suitable individual also depends on: Possibility or availability of relatives or others who could be approved Whether parental rights have been terminated Desires of the child Interested family’s preference for a particular legal relationship with the child Granting PMC to an unrelated individual is the next best option when relatives and fictive kin have been ruled out.

Permanent Managing Conservatorship with Permanency Care Assistance To seek PMC with PCA for a relative or fictive kin: Family reunification and adoption must be ruled out Transferring PMC to a relative or fictive kin with the support of a PCA is in the child’s best interest

Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement Another planned permanent living arrangement (APPLA) is the least preferred permanency goal. APPLA permanency goal indicates: Youth is 16 or above Preferred permanency options have been ruled out There is a compelling reason why other options are not in the best interest of the youth and is documented The safe permanent living situation is an independent or assisted community living situation where the youth will live when he or she leaves care This option can best meet the youth’s best interest and long term needs

Categories of Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement The categories of APPLA are as follows: Other family, DFPS Conservatorship-DFPS has PMC of the child and the child is living in a least restrictive family-like setting. Foster Family, DFPS Conservatorship-DFPS has PMC of the child and the child would live in a foster home until he or she reaches adulthood. Independent Living-DFPS has PMC. Youth lives in foster group home, RTC, or institutional setting until he or she reaches 18 and exits situation. Community Care-DFPS has PMC of child with intellectual or developmental disability. Youth resides in HCS home or institutional setting. When youth reaches adulthood, a legal guardian will be needed to look after youth’s well being.

Final Words Children are our hope for the future but we are their hope for the present and in planning their future.