ACHIEVING FAMILY PERMANENCE: A PUBLIC POLICY BRIEFING

Nearly a decade after the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act strengthened the focus of public child welfare on safety, well being and family permanence, leaders from across the country came together to participate in a public policy briefing, in Washington, D.C. to advance policy decisions that help older children and youth in foster care achieve families for life.

The briefing, part of the 2006 National Convening on Youth Permanence, addressed the barriers to formulating and implementing sound policies that promote all parts of the permanency continuum, and identified strategies for reform. “Achieving Family Permanence: Unfinished Business for Older Children and Youth in Foster Care” offered a focused examination of the current body of law, and panelists shared their policy recommendations aimed at facilitating family permanence for youth.

Follow-up forums are planned for Connecticut and Massachusetts in November and December.

At the Public Policy Briefing, Casey Family Services and the Children’s Defense Fund released a report on the proceedings from the 2005 Permanency Symposium. To download “Making Permanence a Reality for Children and Youth in Foster Care: Strengthening Policy at the Federal Level,” click here.

To learn more about the 2006 National Convening on Youth Permanence’s Public Policy Briefing, send an email to policy@caseyfamilyservices.org.