In developing a permanency plan for a child, DFPS collaborates with the child, family, and others to identify specific steps to achieve the identified permanency goal. Since these steps are considered part of the permanency plan for the child, the presentation of the child’s permanency plan includes a discussion of the steps needed to achieve the goal. 

These steps are also considered part of the case planning process. For further information about case planning, see 6240 [sic, broken link] Case Planning. 

DFPS must address the following in order to develop an appropriate permanency plan for the child:

• the needs and wants of the parents to ensure that they safely maintain the child in the home;
•  needs and wants of relatives or extended family members to ensure care for the child on a permanent basis; 
• the needs and wants of the child to ensure their return to the care of the parents; 
• the needs and wants of the child to ensure placement in the care of a relative or fictive kin; 
• the needs and wants of the child’s caregiver to ensure care for the child on a longterm basis and support of the permanency goal for the child; and 
• identification of other caring adults.

In order to develop an appropriate permanency plan, DFPS must gather information from a variety of sources, using appropriate methods to:

• assess the child’s and the family’s needs, wishes, strengths, and problems; 
• reach out to the child, the child’s family, and the child’s extended family, as appropriate; 
• develop relationships and rapport as circumstances warrant; 
• gather sufficient information about the child and the family; 
• assess the extended family for their strengths, needs, supports, wishes, and problems; 
• obtain additional assessments as needed; and 
• learn and stay up to date about the resources and services that are needed and that are available in the community for children and families.

From this information, DFPS develops a permanency plan and service plan with the child and family that contains appropriate tasks for those involved and identified time frames.

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