Permanency Pact

Transitioning out of care was challenging. I was unsure of who I could reach out to during tough times, who I’d spend the holidays with, or who I could call when I wanted someone to debrief my day with. I wasn’t aware of tools that could map out and solidify who’s in your network. Tools like the Permanency Pact could’ve been beneficial to me. 

The Permanency Pact is a shared agreement between you and a trusted supportive adult. This agreement is a verbal commitment that the supportive adult will serve as a long-term permanent connection in your life. 

Adjusting to adulthood brought up a lot of changes and things I was unsure about. It would’ve been awesome to have a supportive adult attend my graduations, celebrations, birthdays, and holidays. Oftentimes, I wanted to share those moments with someone who knew me and my journey from care. Sharing a commitment via the Permanency Pact would’ve been a great way to ensure I had someone to depend on during those times. I encourage all youth in care to utilize tools like the Permanency Pact, because we all need someone to rely on. Having someone to call when you’re questioning different aspects of being an adult is extremely valuable. 

What does a Permanency Pact provide for youth in foster care?

A Permanency Pact creates a pathway for you to connect with supportive adults and establish a long-term connection. It gives you a safety net to fall back on when you need extra support. It sets clear expectations for both you and your adult support as to what to expect as you navigate and maintain this connection for years to come.

Who completes a Permanency Pact?

You’ll complete a Permanency Pact with a supportive adult of your choosing, in addition to someone called the facilitator. The facilitator should be someone who knows you and be able to share what support they think you’ll need as you transition out of care. They should be experienced with Permanency Pacts and help pave the way for you and a supportive adult to share this agreement. 
Remember, the supportive adult should be someone of your choosing with whom you want to form a permanent connection. This should be someone who knows you and who’s willing to commit to both a long-term connection and support when you need it.

What should I expect when developing a Permanency Pact?

You’ll work with the facilitator to explore what support you want or need as you prepare for your transition out of care. The facilitator may suggest using the 45 suggested supports to help with this process. Together, you’ll come up with a list of people who may be able to provide you with some of those suggested supports. 

Next, the facilitator will contact the people listed and ask if they’re interested in sharing a Permanency Pact with you. They’ll ask what support the adult is willing to provide and schedule a meet-up between you both to discuss moving forward with completing a Permanency Pact. 

You’ll sign the Permanency Pact with a supportive adult, and the facilitator will provide a witness signature. Both you and the supportive adult will receive copies of the Permanency Pact. I recommend that you ask for the facilitator to prepare a certificate for both of you to keep and reference in the future. There is a certificate template on the FosterClub website. 

Is a Permanency Pact required for youth in care?

No, sharing a Permanency Pact with a supportive adult is entirely up to you! Taking a step toward trusting the adults in your life to provide you with ongoing support can be a major step for some youth. It’s completely understandable to be weary of doing so, and you should only participate in the Permanency Pact process if you want to.

Resources:

• FosterClub Permanency Pact

About the Author:
Kat works in healthcare and advocacy. As a former youth with lived experience, one of her biggest goals is to uplift youth voices within the child welfare system and influence policy to reflect better outcomes for youth in care. Her passions surround everything related to the art of storytelling.