Permanency is both a process and a result that includes involvement of the youth as a participant or leader in finding a permanent connection with at least one committed adult who provides:

• A safe, stable and secure parenting relationship
  
  
• Love
  
  
• Unconditional commitment
  
  
• Lifelong support in the context of reunification, a legal adoption, or guardianship, where possible, and in which the youth has the opportunity to maintain contacts with important persons including brothers & sisters

A broad array of individualized permanency options exist; reunification and adoption are an important two among many that may be appropriate.

Permanency definition

DEFINITION OF A PERMANENT LIFELONG CONNECTION

An adult who consistently states and demonstrates that she or he has entered an unconditional, lifelong parent-like relationship with the youth. The youth agrees that the adult will play this role in his or her life.

CHECKLIST TO ASSURE A CONNECTION IS PERMANENT WHEN IT'S NOT LEGAL PERMANENCY

How can you know if someone is indeed a "permanent connection" for a youth? The Checklist asks about specific actions and decisions that can be used to determine if a permanent connection truly exists, particularly when there is no legal permanence (i.e. adoption, guardianship, reunification).

• If another family member needs to move in the home, will the youth be asked to leave the house? If so, it's not permanency. In permanency, the family keeps the youth in the home, even if not in his or her room, just as it would keep another child in the same situation.
  
  
• If the family moves out of state, will the youth go with them?
  
  
• Has a plan been made for the youth should one of the parents be incapacitated? For instance, if the foster parent(s) were killed, where would the youth go? If back into foster care, then it's not permanency. If foster parents' relatives aren't explored, it's not permanency.
  
  
• Is the youth included in any and all family decisions in which biological children are included?
  
  
• If the parents were injured in a car accident and end-of-life decisions needed to be made, would the youth be included in the family decision-making?
  
  
• Does the youth benefit from the adult's network of family and close friends?
  
  
• Is the youth invited to go on visits to relatives and to holiday celebrations?
  
  
• Is the youth allowed to have fights with other children in the home, just as biological children do?
  
  
• Would the youth be asked to leave the house for mistakes or behavior for which other children would not be asked to leave?
  
  
• Does the youth go on family vacations?
  
  
• Is the same amount of money devoted to the youth as to other children in family, e.g., violin lessons, soccer camp, money for housing, school, etc.?
  
  
• Is the same level of mentoring, career counseling, and emotional support offered to the youth as is offered to the adult's other children?
  
  
• Is the youth included in inheritance?
  
  
• In all ways, is the youth treated as a member of the family?

Checklist to Assure a Connection Is Permanent