Permanency
All children have the right to a safe and permanent home. When a child’s birth parents are unable or willing to provide this, it can be provided through Permanency Services.
The Permanency Unit operates under the mandates of the Adoption and Safe Family Acts of Pennsylvania. If a child has been in foster care for the past 12 months and no progress has been made by the family in meeting the goals necessary for reunification, the caseworker and Court will begin considering all of the available permanency options. If adoption is selected as the most appropriate goal for the child, the process of terminating the parents' legal rights to the child begins. In some instances, the parents feel that it is in their child's best interest to be adopted and they voluntarily relinquish their rights. In other cases, the Agency presents evidence to the Court to involuntarily terminate their rights. The Permanency Unit works to finalize the permanency plan for the child. In most cases the foster parents, who are already caring for the child, are given the opportunity to adopt. If they are not interested in adopting, they assist in helping the child transition from their home to that of the new family.
The Agency chooses a new family for the child based on his/her strengths and needs and the ability of the family to best accommodate him/her. Many children who are in need of adoptive homes are older, members of sibling groups or have been, to some degree, traumatized by their earlier life experiences. They require families who will be committed to them and who will help them adjust to many changes and losses they have experienced in their lives. Families who are interested in Adoption are referred to the Agency through the Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN). They contract with numerous private Agencies throughout the adoption. They also help with Child Specific Recruitment efforts if we are having difficulty finding a home for a child. Once a match is made the placement is supported by a caseworker who makes visits to the family to help them work out any difficulties they may be experiencing. After a supervisory period of six months, the family petitions the Court for a hearing to finalize the adoption. A Decree of Adoption is issued and the child is made a legal member of the new family.
The Agency may continue to financially support the placement by giving the family subsidy to help meet the special needs of the child. It may include money for the room and board, for special therapies, and legal expenses. The family can also continue to receive a Medical Assistance card to help meet the child’s on-going medical needs.
An additional permanency option is Permanent Legal Custodianship. This does not require the termination of parental rights, yet still allows for the child acheive permanency.
Permanency
All children have the right to a safe and permanent home. When a child’s birth parents are unable or willing to provide this, it can be provided through Permanency Services.
The Permanency Unit operates under the mandates of the Adoption and Safe Family Acts of Pennsylvania. If a child has been in foster care for the past 12 months and no progress has been made by the family in meeting the goals necessary for reunification, the caseworker and Court will begin considering all of the available permanency options. If adoption is selected as the most appropriate goal for the child, the process of terminating the parents' legal rights to the child begins. In some instances, the parents feel that it is in their child's best interest to be adopted and they voluntarily relinquish their rights. In other cases, the Agency presents evidence to the Court to involuntarily terminate their rights. The Permanency Unit works to finalize the permanency plan for the child. In most cases the foster parents, who are already caring for the child, are given the opportunity to adopt. If they are not interested in adopting, they assist in helping the child transition from their home to that of the new family.
The Agency chooses a new family for the child based on his/her strengths and needs and the ability of the family to best accommodate him/her. Many children who are in need of adoptive homes are older, members of sibling groups or have been, to some degree, traumatized by their earlier life experiences. They require families who will be committed to them and who will help them adjust to many changes and losses they have experienced in their lives. Families who are interested in Adoption are referred to the Agency through the Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN). They contract with numerous private Agencies throughout the adoption. They also help with Child Specific Recruitment efforts if we are having difficulty finding a home for a child. Once a match is made the placement is supported by a caseworker who makes visits to the family to help them work out any difficulties they may be experiencing. After a supervisory period of six months, the family petitions the Court for a hearing to finalize the adoption. A Decree of Adoption is issued and the child is made a legal member of the new family.
The Agency may continue to financially support the placement by giving the family subsidy to help meet the special needs of the child. It may include money for the room and board, for special therapies, and legal expenses. The family can also continue to receive a Medical Assistance card to help meet the child’s on-going medical needs.
An additional permanency option is Permanent Legal Custodianship. This does not require the termination of parental rights, yet still allows for the child acheive permanency.