Promoting Permanency for Older Youth in Out-of-Home Care

Permanency efforts for youth should include both legal permanency (e.g., reunification, adoption, kinship care) and relational permanency (i.e., a relationship or connection with a caring adult, such as a relative, neighbor, service provider, teacher, or other important person in the youth's life). These adults may provide lifelong support that can help youth transition to adulthood and may even become a legal permanent option for the youth. This bulletin provides information for child welfare professionals about the importance of permanency—both legal and relational—for youth and strategies for achieving it.