Permanency Planning

Permanency planning is the process of assessing and preparing a child for long term care when in out-of-home placements such as kinship, foster care or institutions. A care plan must centre on what is in the child’s best interests, and therefore requires an ongoing assessment of the child and her needs. A guardian may be appointed as a further protection of a child’s rights.

The ultimate goal of permanency planning is to ensure a secure environment with lifelong bonds that will support the child into adulthood. For most children this will be provided by their birth parents and relatives, and therefore family reunification should be the primary goal. Where reunification is not possible or suitable for the child, adoption or Islamic kafalah is usually the next best option since it offers more stability and enables the child to develop a lasting attachment to carers.

Each child is an individual and brings a unique set of requirements. The choice of placement must therefore consider the child’s cultural and religious background, abilities and any special needs, attachments to significant people and how such relationships can be maintained, their education, health and overall development. Ideally, children should be kept close to their original communities in order help maintain their identity and to reduce disruption to their everyday lives.

While short term care such as fostering can provide a safe place for a child and time to assess their needs, it is often an unsuitable long term option since it is a temporary arrangement that is prone to breakdown. Social workers or other child protection paraprofessionals in the community must determine the use of short term care and the development of longer term plans with the full participation of the child, birth family, and prospective caretakers, providing opportunities for contact with each other, and preparing all for moves.

All placements should be monitored regularly to ensure the child is safe and his/her physical, emotional, and educational needs are met. This includes children who have been recently returned to their birth family or who are newly placed with adoptive parents. Monitoring enables the provision of family support services, and helps to reduce placement breakdown and incidences of abuse.

The resources in this section focus on the factors that should be considered when planning a child’s care, and the advantages and disadvantages of placement options.

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Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children - Arabic

UN General Assembly A/RES/64/142, 24 Feb 2010

The Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children were endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly on 20th November 2009, in connection with the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This momentous day marked a culmination of years of discussions and negotiations led by the Government of Brazil, in partnership with Group of Friends and civil society.

Directrices sobre las modalidades alternativas de cuidado de los niños

UN General Assembly A/RES/64/142, 24 Feb 2010

Las directrices sobre las modalidades alternativas de cuidado de los niños fueron endosados por la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas el 20 de noviembre de 2009, en conexión con el 20a aniversario de la Convención de los Derechos del Niño de la ONU.

Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children - English

UN General Assembly A/RES/64/142, 23 Feb 2010

An Examination of Theory and Promising Practice for Achieving Permanency for Teens before They Age out of Foster Care

Children and Youth Services Review , 28 Oct 2009

This paper examines the efficacy of Independent Living (IL) services in the United States in preparing foster youth to live “independently”, and calls into question the appropriateness of an “independence” goal for youth aging out of foster care.

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Toolkit for Positive Change: Providing Family-Focused, Results-Driven and Cost-Effective Programming for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Save the Children Federation, 2009

Documents the strategies of The Positive Change: Children, Communities and Care (PC3) Program - a five-year (2004-2009) integrated and comprehensive program designed to provide care and support to more than half a million orphaned and vulnerable children and their families throughout the country of Ethiopia.

Adopting the Rights of a Child: A Study on Intercountry Adoption and its Influence on Child Protection in Nepal

Terre des Hommes Foundation and UNICEF, 01 Aug 2008

Evaluates the need for reform within Nepal's intercountry adoption programming and the broader needs within the child protection and alternative care arenas nationally.

Mapping of Residential Care Institutions in Sierra Leone

UNICEF, 01 Aug 2008

Mapping of existing facilities caring for children in residential capacity for use in developing child protection standards

Assessment of Procedural and Physical Standards in Children's Residential Care Institutions in Guyana: Summary and Recommendations

01 Aug 2008

Examines the capacity of childcare institutions and the monitoring and reintegration meausures necessary to ensure child safety in such.

Cambodia Inter-Country Adoption (ICA) Assessment and Action Plan

UNICEF Cambodia, 01 Jun 2008

Evaluation of need for systemic strengthening and partnering to ensure protection of children without parental and children involved with ICA

Situation Faced by Institutionalized Children and Adolescents in Shelters in Guatemala

Office of Social Welfare of Guatemala, Holt International and UNICEF, 01 Jun 2008

Assesses the causes and realities of children living in institutions in Guatemala with recommendations for systemic reform.