What is Best Practice in Permanency Planning for at Risk Children - Research Paper Example

 It also discusses best practices in permanency planning and highlights what is best for at risk children in regard to planning for their permanency. Since the early twentieth century, the United States child welfare policy placed a lot of emphasis on preserving the family. Although there was this emphasis, the population of children under foster care continued to rise, which was an indication that child placement was still the route preferred by many in responding to problems surrounding child welfare.

Foster care was a good solution to tackling children’s welfare problems, but it was noted that they moved a lot and stayed in foster homes for too long which made the population of children under foster care to huge (Maluccio et al, 1982). This led to the emergence of permanency planning. The philosophy behind permanency planning is that a permanent and stable home is a right for every child and therefore plans should be made to create or find permanent living settings for children in foster care (Department of Health Services, 2006).

Increasing balance in children’s living circumstances is the primary goal of permanency planning. From the beginning, the essence of permanency planning has been to return children under foster care home or give them for adoption. Planned permanent foster care and legal guardianship are also options under permanency planning. For permanency planning to be effective, professionals, caretakers and family members are required to collaborate in safeguarding, providing permanence and ensuring the welfare of children.

The value of community network, dependable relationships, and usefulness of family life as the main principles guiding healthy child growth.