Why Does a Child Need Permanency?

Permanency can help a child form and maintain deep attachment to caretaker(s), which must be present to ensure a child's optimal physical and emotional growth and health (Szalavitz and Perry 2010). Permanency promotes a long-term sense of connectedness in young people (Donohue, Bradley-king, Cahalane, 2013).

Why is permanency planning important?

Permanency protects the child developmentally and creates new attachments. Early permanency planning is essential for all Looked After children to avoid drift and ensure they have the opportunity of reaching their full potential from a safe and secure base.

What is permanency for a child?

Child welfare agencies use a variety of strategies to achieve permanency for children. Permanency planning involves decisive, time-limited, and goal-oriented activities to maintain children within their families of origin or place them with other permanent families.