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Permanency Options for Caregivers

Permanency Options for Caregivers. A Guide To Permanency Case Decisions. Shelly Field, BS Portland State University Child Welfare Partnership. Disclaimer.

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Permanency Options for Caregivers

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  1. Permanency Options for Caregivers A Guide To Permanency Case Decisions Shelly Field, BS Portland State University Child Welfare Partnership

  2. Disclaimer This training is based on the policies and procedures of the Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare program. If you are certified by another agency, please consult your agency's policies to ensure compliance.

  3. Goals of this Training: Participants will define permanence and why it is important.

  4. Goals of this Training: Participants will become familiar with Adoption, Guardianship and APPLA and the cultural, financial and birth family contact factors to consider for each.

  5. Goals of this Training: Participants will become familiar with how each of the permanency plans is achieved.

  6. Goals of this Training: Participants will become aware of the barriers to permanency that can arise for children and caregivers and how to address them.

  7. Meeting Your Needs Do the goals identified meet your needs? Are there specific questions that you have come with, that do not appear to addressed by the training goals listed? If so what are they?

  8. What is your definition of permanence?

  9. Defining Permanence: A Working Definition • Casey Family Program • A parent or two – a parenting relationship with at least one adult. • Intent – a mutual understanding that this relationship is intended to last forever. • Unconditional commitment by the adults. • Sue Hoag Badeau

  10. Defining Permanence: A Working Definition • Life-long and mutual support and involvement. • Intimacy and belonging – my son, my mom, my dad. • Status: How the world views your relationship as being officially recognized and permanent. • Participation of all parties in the relationship.

  11. Plan Choices Adoption Guardianship APPLA

  12. Choosing the Plan Does it meet the child’s needs? Does it meet the permanent family’s needs? Is it achievable?

  13. Important Factors To Consider in Ruling Out Adoption • Cultural issues • Family composition - Am I still grandma? • Parental rights • Who makes decisions

  14. Important Factors To Consider in Ruling Out Adoption • Parental contact • How much visitation • Who decides if it will happen or need to be rescheduled? • Financial issues • Adoption vs. Guardianship

  15. Cultural Values and Family Composition How do different cultures define family? Are we asking a resource family to give up their way of life to fit our legal definition of family?

  16. Cultural Valuesand Family Composition Can I still be Grandma? What does my extended family think about adoption? Will I be disowned by my family?

  17. Cultural Valuesand Family Composition Do I lose community support if I adopt? What message do I give to my community and relatives about the birth parents if I agree to adoption?

  18. Which of these plans gives birth parents the most rights? a) Guardianship b) Adoption c) Independent living plan d) Another planned permanent living arrangement

  19. DecisionMaking Adoption brings an end to parental rights Guardianship may not bring enough protection to the permanent family What happens to parents’ involvement in a case in which APPLA is the plan?

  20. Contact with Birth Parent How often will contact occur? Post Adoption Contact Agreement- PACA Guardianship order APPLA

  21. Financial Issues Adoption Assistance - Early Review Guardianship Assistance - IVE eligible, Early Review

  22. Financial Issues Foster Care payments -DD children ILP services – Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid

  23. Independent Living Services http://www.dhs.state.or.us/caf/safety_model/procedure_manual/appendices/ch4-app/4-25.pdf

  24. Achievability Adoption-TPR or Relinquishment Guardianship-Permanent Juvenile Court or Durable Juvenile Court APPLA-Permanent Foster Care or Permanent Connections and Support

  25. Pathway to Achieving a Permanent Plan Adoption-Identification and Consideration of Potential Adoptive Resources A relative as defined in OAR 413-120-0710(12)(a)-(c). A relative as defined in OAR 413-120-0710(12)(d), or a current caretaker (except when OAR 413-120-0580(2)(b)(B) applies), or both.

  26. Pathway to Achieving a Permanent Plan Adoption-Identification and Consideration of Potential Adoptive Resources (c) A current caretaker and a general applicant, when a determination has been made under OAR 413-120-0580(2)(b)(B). (d) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a general applicant

  27. Pathway to Achieving a Permanent Plan In adoption, DHS has to determine with their attorney if there is adequate legal information to terminate parental rights. If the parents’ rights are terminated, they have the right to appeal and an adoption cannot finalize while an appeal is pending.

  28. Pathway to Achieving a Permanent Plan Guardianship Legal Permanency, Concurrent Planning, and Use of Permanency Committee-I-E.3.6 OAR 413-070-0500 thru 0519 Guardianship as a Permanency Plan I-EEE.3.6.1 OARE.3.6.1 OAR 413-070-0651 thru 0670

  29. APPLA Annual Review If the plan is APPLA, we must review this choice as a permanency option every year. Relative search revisited Rule out return to a parent Rule out adoption Rule out guardianship

  30. Other Factors to Consider How do you know if a child has issues with moving to a permanency plan? What do you think the issues are that a child may have regarding permanence?

  31. Emotional Barriers Children May Have in Permanency Decisions • Divided loyalties • I don’t want to lose connections • I’m scared • I don’t understand

  32. Emotional Barriers Children May Have in Permanency Decisions I have to protect myself from being hurt by being rejected by another family I don’t want to change my name

  33. Barriers Can come up at any time If not dealt with early, can cause problems in achieving permanence If the family isn’t raising the issues, it doesn’t mean the issues don’t exist

  34. Barriers What are some of the emotional barriers or family conflicts in becoming a permanent caregiver you have encountered?

  35. Common Barriers If I say yes, will the birth parent think I do not support the child returning home? If I say yes, do I lose hope that the birth parent will get better?

  36. Common Barriers If I question my ability to raise this child, how do I share that without causing the agency to remove the child or the birth parent to question my ability?

  37. Common Family Conflicts • How will this affect my relationships with other members of my family? • I want to be Grandma not Mom. What are my options if I want to maintain my role?

  38. Permanency Everyone’s job It is a process, not an event Have patience with the children and family members throughout this journey

  39. Thank you!

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