Training Summary:

This training will highlight several strategies and tools that are designed to assist all child welfare stakeholders in ensuring that children and youth find their life-long, family support network. For purposes of this session, family support network can include a forever family through adoption, including relatives, non-related extended family members or other important connections.

Discussions and exercises will be utilized to emphasize how check-ins, court appearances and child and family team meetings are opportunities to engage in conversations about important people. During this session, older youth permanency research as well as the recently released California Judicial Council “Permanency Bench cards” and their respective appendices will be used. These appendices include questions to ask to ensure continued focus on permanency for all youth.

Class Objectives:

§ Describe the federal and state permanency priorities and how they can apply to all children and youth

§ Recognize how the continuous research and youth’s voice should prioritize permanency practice.

§ Apply strategies learned to ensure engagement opportunities continue to focus on building a network of support for youth of any age 

§ Incorporate network building questions and discussions into meetings with family and youth

§ Construct family diagrams with children and youth to ensure relatives and important connections are identified and engaged