Permanence

Permanency rates are declining for older youth in foster care.

One in four youth exiting foster care lack lasting connections to family or supportive adults. FosterClub believes that meaningful relationships post-care significantly enhance their chances to thrive.

Why it matters

Young people in foster care often struggle to form lasting, supportive relationships. Such enduring and supportive relationships have proven to aid former foster youth in securing housing, education, and stable jobs. Professionals working with these youth should prioritize reconnecting them with birth families, chosen families, and other supportive figures through various means, including mentorship and community involvement.

There are 3 different types of permanency: 

Quick Facts

• Youth who exit care without permanency are more likely to experience homelessness, poverty, and/or mental health challenges (source). 
• Black and Native American youth are less likely to have supportive adult relationships after exiting foster care. (source)
• 1 in 4 youth in foster care will live in a group placement setting (source). Youth in group placements are less likely to have supportive relationships with adults after exiting care (source).

“When I started high school, my life was in a downward spiral. I was fortunate enough to have some people that recognized that I had something better to offer and that I had the choice to change my life around. Without these people, I don’t know if I’d be here today.”

— Former foster youth

Wanna learn more?

• Check out this resource from the Journey to Success Program.
• Here’s a study with some helpful data that shows the need for permanency support for foster youth.
• This is a helpful resource from Casey Family Programs about the importance of family visitation and connection for youth in foster care.

Tools you can use

• When thinking about how to help foster youth maintain permanent relationships, always let lived experience guide your process. Here is what our friends at the National Foster Youth Advisory Council had to say about promoting permanency.
• Visit Coaching is a program to help birth parents connect with their kids during family visitation.
• Here is a fact sheet of how caregivers can connect with birth parents in the hopes of family reunification.

“They have each been very supportive of my goals. Never held judgment or bias against me for things that occurred previous to or while in care. Even after care.

— Former foster youth from Oklahoma