Substitute care is usually temporary. It generally lasts from a few months up to a year, but some children do remain in substitute care longer. 

In most cases, we first try to return the child to his or her home. This is our primary “permanency goal” and is called reunification. We also have an alternate permanency goal in case that is not possible. The alternate goal could be one of the following: 

• Adoption by a relative. 
• Permanent conservatorship by a relative. 
• Adoption by an unrelated family. 
• Permanent conservatorship by an unrelated family. 
• Care by a foster family with DFPS having permanent conservatorship. 
• Care in some other family arrangement with DFPS having permanent conservatorship. 
• Remaining in substitute care while preparing to transition to adulthood.
• Preparation for adult living with community assistance for youth who are at least 18 years old and who have a developmental disability. 

Once we have a goal, we create a “permanency plan” to help us achieve it. However, the goal may change over time, and it often depends on parents participating in services. The parents may contest the goal in court if they disagree with it, unless the court has already terminated their parental rights. 

Please Note: Parents can voluntarily give up their parental rights by signing a document called a relinquishment. Signing a relinquishment is a serious matter. Parents should consider it carefully and discuss it with their attorney. If the parents sign a relinquishment, the court may terminate their parental rights, which means they are no longer the child’s legal parents. At that time, the parents will no longer be responsible for the child. When the child is free for adoption and the appropriate adoptive family (which may be the kinship caregiver) is selected, the child will be placed in a permanent home. Also note there are some criminal acts that make a kinship caregiver ineligible to adopt a child. In these circumstances, DFPS cannot recommend the placement. However, a judge can order a child placed with such a kinship caregiver on a temporary or permanent basis. 

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