Permanency planning for children is best done with the involvement of children's parents and other family members. When families are engaged in case planning, they are more likely to actively participate in the plan and work toward its requirements. Families also are more likely to recognize and agree with the identified problems to be resolved, perceive goals to be relevant and attainable, and be satisfied with the planning and decision-making process. The following resources provide examples of approaches administrators, supervisors, and frontline workers can use to enhance family engagement in permanency planning. Resources include State and local examples.
The Children's Bureau's Role in Promoting Parent Engagement and Family Support: A Brief History and Current Efforts (PDF - 236 KB)
Brodowski, Hernandez, Brown, & Lamble (2012)
Journal of Family Strengths, Special Issue: Centennial of the Children's Bureau, 12(1)
Highlights the Children's Bureau's efforts to test innovations and disseminate knowledge about promising and evidence-based practices regarding parent engagement and family support.
| Series Title | Bulletins for Professionals |
| Author(s) | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability | View Download (PDF - 426KB) Order (Free) |
| Year Published | 2016 |
Family Engagement Inventory
Familiarizes professionals with how family engagement is defined and implemented across child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, education, and early education.
Family Engagement: A Web-Based Practice Toolkit
National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections
Makes promising practices, programs, and resources on family engagement available for programs, States, and Tribes. The toolkit is updated continuously to reflect current practices in the field.
Family Search and Engagement: A Comprehensive Practice Guide (PDF - 1,178 KB)
Catholic Community Services of Western Washington & EMQ Children and Family Services (2008)
Supports the implementation of family search and engagement practice by providing an overview of the issues and activities as well as practical tools to assist in day-to-day work.
Realizing Permanency, Well-Being Through Authentic Engagement (PDF - 1,041 KB)
Pinsoneault & Fiermonte (2013)
Alliance for Children and Families
Discusses a value system to support child and family engagement and provides case examples. The report details five core beliefs related to children and families' experiences in family-engagement oriented child welfare systems and offers examples of successful policies and practices.
Six Steps to Find a Family: A Practice Guide to Family Search and Engagement (FSE) (PDF - 2,970 KB)
Louisell (2008)
National Resource Center Permanency and Family Connections & California Permanency for Youth Project
Provides detailed guidance on casework practice that supports family search and engagement in the quest to provide permanency for youth. The guide provides a section on research related to youth permanency, as well as a list of resources.
State and local examples
Family Connection Grants Program
National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections
Provides information about the Children's Bureau's Family Connections grants program.