permanency planning
Long-term placement decisions
Permanency planning is the process of finding stable, long-term living arrangements for children in foster care or other temporary placements.
The goal is to move children out of uncertain situations into permanent homes—whether through reunification with birth parents, adoption, or legal guardianship.
Social workers develop permanency plans that outline steps toward these outcomes: The court reviewed the permanency planning goals at the six-month hearing.
- adoption lawStatutes governing child placement
- foster careSupervised substitute parenting
- reunificationRestoring divided unity
- home visitsService delivered at residence
- attachment theoryStudy of emotional bonds
case management · guardianship · community resources · emotional security · legal advocacy · best interest · caseworker · identity formation · child rights · safe haven · aging out · custody agreements · family court · court hearings · risk assessment · hearings · developmental milestones · mental health services
- child welfarechild protection, child welfare, foster care, child services, foster home
- orphan careorphanages, orphans, foundlings, foster care, foster homes
- adoptionadoption, adoption agency, adoption agencies, adoption process, adoption law
- residential careresidential care, assisted living, nursing homes, group homes, foster homes
- youth servicesyouth development, youth groups, youth centers, youth programs, youth services
- ICWAtribal courts, tribal membership, tribal nations, native children, indigenous children
permanency planningtemporary placement
Brief, non-lasting arrangement
transitional housing · respite care · temporary custody · limbo · impermanence
permanency planningbureaucratic inertia
Systemic resistance to administrative change