The purpose of this Information Memorandum (IM) is to provide information on best practices, resources,and recommendations for achieving permanency for children and youth in a way that prioritizes the child’s or youth’s well-being. Using an analysis of child welfare data, this IM also outlines typical patterns in exit outcomes for children and youth in foster care. This IM reviews the permanency goals of reunification, adoption, and guardianship and emphasizes the importance of state and tribal child welfare agencies and courts focusing on each child’s unique needs, attachments, and connections when making permanency decisions.
View the IM here.