Permanency Initiative

• In 1997, the Governor convened a broad-based group to determine what should be done to achieve safe, permanent homes for foster children in an expeditious manner. Three pieces of legislation were enacted: HB 165, HB 66, SB 1099. The provisions of these laws constitute the Permanency Initiative and include:
• Children’s health and safety are always the paramount concern.
• Diligent searches must be made early after the initiation of services for missing parents or other family members who might be resources for the children.
• A court permanency hearing must occur for each child no later than 12 months after the date the child has entered foster care; and a permanency hearing must occur no less than every 6 months as long as a child is in foster care.
• The court must select a permanency goal for the child at the permanency hearing.
• The court must consider what action is in the children’s best interest.
• Reasonable efforts are not required to reunify children with parents when aggravating circumstances exist or when the court selects a permanency goal other than one of three reunification-related permanency goals.
• Expedited termination of parental rights may be pursued when aggravating circumstances exist.
• Permission to engage in concurrent planning (simultaneously working to reunify children while also pursuing alternative permanent living arrangements if reunification efforts fail).
• Changing the criteria defining parental unfitness in the Adoption Act to make termination of parental rights more timely.