Starting at the first meeting, caseworkers tell birth parents about the possibility of reunification, relinquishment, or termination of parental rights in a straightforward manner. Concurrent planning programs often secure open adoption agreements between birth parents and adoptive parents in the event of a termination of parental rights. Open adoption agreements recognize the ongoing importance of birth parents and extended family in the lives of African American children. Agencies that clearly identify permanency planning parents roles assure greater stability for the child, improve foster parent retention, and help permanency planning parents to be more effective caregivers. Agency and social worker support helps these special foster families deal with the permanency planning roller coaster ride.
Support reduces permanency planning parent burn-out and lessens the chance of placement disruptions.
When permanency planning parents understand their complex responsibilities, they are better able to handle the strain of this demanding position. Permanency planning parents are taught that their main job is to facilitate the permanency plan. Permanency planning parents help foster children visit their birth parents. Permanency planning parents get to know birth parents. They empathize with struggling birth parents, and model positive parenting skills.