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Post-Permanency Services

Scientific Ratings in this Topic
  • 1 Well-Supported by Research Evidence
  • 2 Supported by Research Evidence
  • 3 Promising Research Evidence
  • 4 Evidence Fails to Demonstrate Effect
  • 5 Concerning Practice
  • NR Not able to be Rated

Topic Areas

Topic Areas

Definition

Post-Permanency Services are defined by the CEBC as those services that ensure the continuing stability, safety, and well-being for children and youth who have moved from the temporary custody of the child welfare system into a permanent legal arrangement with committed caregivers. These arrangements may include reunification with the child's birth parents or adoption or legal guardianship by relatives (kinship care) or non-relatives. Many of these post-permanency services are developed as part of the planning process prior to the attainment of legal permanence. These services meet the unique and ever-changing needs of children and the families that care for them and may include information and referral; education (e.g., parenting skills, advocacy skills with school systems, etc.); clinical and therapeutic services; access to material resources; and access to community-based supportive networks (e.g., support groups, recreational activities, and respite care).

These services are provided through referrals to community-based agencies many of which provide services through contractual arrangements that the child welfare agency has in place.

  • Target population: Families and youth who have been reunified with their birth family or who have exited the child welfare system into a permanent placement
  • Services/types that fit: Services that include assessment, case planning, case management, education, and/or skill building
  • Delivered by: Child welfare workers, mental health professionals, or trained paraprofessionals
  • In order to be included: Program must specifically target families and children who have been reunified or have entered a permanent placement
  • In order to be rated: There must be research evidence (as specified by the Scientific Rating Scale) that examines permanency-related outcomes, such as disruptions, re-entries to care, and maltreatment reports

Definition

Post-Permanency Services are defined by the CEBC as those services that ensure the continuing stability, safety, and well-being for children and youth who have moved from the temporary custody of the child welfare system into a permanent legal arrangement with committed caregivers. These arrangements may include reunification with the child's birth parents or adoption or legal guardianship by relatives (kinship care) or non-relatives. Many of these post-permanency services are developed as part of the planning process prior to the attainment of legal permanence. These services meet the unique and ever-changing needs of children and the families that care for them and may include information and referral; education (e.g., parenting skills, advocacy skills with school systems, etc.); clinical and therapeutic services; access to material resources; and access to community-based supportive networks (e.g., support groups, recreational activities, and respite care).

These services are provided through referrals to community-based agencies many of which provide services through contractual arrangements that the child welfare agency has in place.

  • Target population: Families and youth who have been reunified with their birth family or who have exited the child welfare system into a permanent placement
  • Services/types that fit: Services that include assessment, case planning, case management, education, and/or skill building
  • Delivered by: Child welfare workers, mental health professionals, or trained paraprofessionals
  • In order to be included: Program must specifically target families and children who have been reunified or have entered a permanent placement
  • In order to be rated: There must be research evidence (as specified by the Scientific Rating Scale) that examines permanency-related outcomes, such as disruptions, re-entries to care, and maltreatment reports

Why was this topic chosen by the Advisory Committee?

The Post-Permanency Services topic area is relevant to child welfare because these services are lacking in many child welfare systems. Child welfare systems have substantially increased the number of foster children that reunify or attain legal permanence through adoption and legal guardianship due to the passage of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 and the mandate for timely permanency. However, less attention has been paid to address the continuing needs of former foster children and the families that have committed to a permanent connection. It is well-known that access to services for these children and families tend to be less available than they were when the child was in the formal system. All the while, the needs for these services and supports may remain the same or even increase as children and families go through different developmental and life cycle changes.

In order to support continuing stability, safety, and well-being and prevent unnecessary re-entry into the foster care system, child welfare agencies and their community partners need to provide an array of accessible and timely services that are uniquely tailored to their needs (e.g., kinship care services). Special consideration to cultural, linguistic, and ethnic aspects should be taken, given the large numbers of youth and families of color impacted by child welfare systems.

Jorge Cabrera
Senior Director
Casey Family Programs
San Diego, CA

Why was this topic chosen by the Advisory Committee?

The Post-Permanency Services topic area is relevant to child welfare because these services are lacking in many child welfare systems. Child welfare systems have substantially increased the number of foster children that reunify or attain legal permanence through adoption and legal guardianship due to the passage of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 and the mandate for timely permanency. However, less attention has been paid to address the continuing needs of former foster children and the families that have committed to a permanent connection. It is well-known that access to services for these children and families tend to be less available than they were when the child was in the formal system. All the while, the needs for these services and supports may remain the same or even increase as children and families go through different developmental and life cycle changes.

In order to support continuing stability, safety, and well-being and prevent unnecessary re-entry into the foster care system, child welfare agencies and their community partners need to provide an array of accessible and timely services that are uniquely tailored to their needs (e.g., kinship care services). Special consideration to cultural, linguistic, and ethnic aspects should be taken, given the large numbers of youth and families of color impacted by child welfare systems.

Jorge Cabrera
Senior Director
Casey Family Programs
San Diego, CA

Topic Expert

The Post-Permanency Services topic area was added in 2009. Peter Pecora, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2009 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2009 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Pecora was not involved in identifying or rating them.

Topic Expert

The Post-Permanency Services topic area was added in 2009. Peter Pecora, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2009 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2009 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Pecora was not involved in identifying or rating them.

Programs

Homebuilders®

Homebuilders® is a home- and community-based intensive family preservation services treatment program designed to avoid unnecessary placement of children and youth into foster care, group care, psychiatric hospitals, or juvenile justice facilities. The program model engages families by delivering services in their natural environment, at times when they are most receptive to learning, and by enlisting them as partners in assessment, goal setting, and treatment planning. Reunification cases often require case activities related to reintegrating the child into the home and community. Examples include helping the parent find childcare, enrolling the child in school, refurbishing the child’s bedroom, and helping the child connect with clubs, sports or other community groups. Child neglect referrals often require case activities related to improving the physical condition of the home, improving supervision of children, decreasing parental depression and/or alcohol and substance abuse, and helping families access needed community supports.

Scientific Rating 2

Enhancing Adoptive Parenting

Enhancing Adoptive Parenting is adapted to meet the specific needs of adopters of children placed late from the foster care system. The aim is to enhance adoptive parenting by advice and discussion rather than via a training program.

The program helps adopters to acquire behavior management skills for dealing with the more intense problem behavior exhibited by maltreated children. It also aims to improve the adopter's understanding of the meaning of the child's current behavior and to help them to see how past and present might be connected. It emphases the need for adopters to conduct daily play sessions with their child and helps them adapt when their child rejects their praise and/or their rewards. It is an individualized, home-based program to be delivered by trained parent advisers. The manual contains special sections on less common, but nevertheless troubling, problems for some families (e.g., sexually inappropriate behavior, sibling conflicts, stealing and lying, etc.)

Scientific Rating NR

Kinship Navigator Program – Washington State

The Kinship Navigator Program - Washington State is a statewide program that includes all 39 counties and 7 tribes. The program provides a human services worker known as a Kinship Navigator that offers services to kinship care families in a single or multicounty service area or for one of seven tribes. The role of the Kinship Navigator is to connect grandparents and relatives who are raising children with community resources, such as health, financial, legal services, support groups, training, and emergency funds. Since many kinship care families are unaware of services for which they are entitled, Kinship Navigators also explain how to apply for federal and state benefits. The Kinship Navigator services help kinship care families establish or maintain greater self-sufficiency and long-term stability needed to keep their children in their family of origin.

Scientific Rating NR

Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center

ORPARC’s mission is to provide ongoing support, education, information, assistance, and referral services to the state’s adoptive, assisted guardianship, and kinship families and youth, and foster families via the library, web resources, and trainings.

Scientific Rating NR

Programs

Homebuilders®

Homebuilders® is a home- and community-based intensive family preservation services treatment program designed to avoid unnecessary placement of children and youth into foster care, group care, psychiatric hospitals, or juvenile justice facilities. The program model engages families by delivering services in their natural environment, at times when they are most receptive to learning, and by enlisting them as partners in assessment, goal setting, and treatment planning. Reunification cases often require case activities related to reintegrating the child into the home and community. Examples include helping the parent find childcare, enrolling the child in school, refurbishing the child’s bedroom, and helping the child connect with clubs, sports or other community groups. Child neglect referrals often require case activities related to improving the physical condition of the home, improving supervision of children, decreasing parental depression and/or alcohol and substance abuse, and helping families access needed community supports.

Scientific Rating 2

Enhancing Adoptive Parenting

Enhancing Adoptive Parenting is adapted to meet the specific needs of adopters of children placed late from the foster care system. The aim is to enhance adoptive parenting by advice and discussion rather than via a training program.

The program helps adopters to acquire behavior management skills for dealing with the more intense problem behavior exhibited by maltreated children. It also aims to improve the adopter's understanding of the meaning of the child's current behavior and to help them to see how past and present might be connected. It emphases the need for adopters to conduct daily play sessions with their child and helps them adapt when their child rejects their praise and/or their rewards. It is an individualized, home-based program to be delivered by trained parent advisers. The manual contains special sections on less common, but nevertheless troubling, problems for some families (e.g., sexually inappropriate behavior, sibling conflicts, stealing and lying, etc.)

Scientific Rating NR

Kinship Navigator Program – Washington State

The Kinship Navigator Program - Washington State is a statewide program that includes all 39 counties and 7 tribes. The program provides a human services worker known as a Kinship Navigator that offers services to kinship care families in a single or multicounty service area or for one of seven tribes. The role of the Kinship Navigator is to connect grandparents and relatives who are raising children with community resources, such as health, financial, legal services, support groups, training, and emergency funds. Since many kinship care families are unaware of services for which they are entitled, Kinship Navigators also explain how to apply for federal and state benefits. The Kinship Navigator services help kinship care families establish or maintain greater self-sufficiency and long-term stability needed to keep their children in their family of origin.

Scientific Rating NR

Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center

ORPARC’s mission is to provide ongoing support, education, information, assistance, and referral services to the state’s adoptive, assisted guardianship, and kinship families and youth, and foster families via the library, web resources, and trainings.

Scientific Rating NR