Written by: Ebone Kimber, Independent Living Program Director
I worked at a residential facility for 2 ½ years engaging with young people in the foster care system, who felt forgotten by family and had little to no plans for the future. I often reflected on my own life, remembering
how difficult it was for me as a teenager to navigate life, even with both my
parents present; I couldn’t fathom how difficult it must be for the young
people I provided services to. They
would tell me, “no one cares about me, why should I care about myself.” I spent countless hours convincing young
people that they mattered and were important. But, they need someone consistent
in their lives telling them these things. That’s when I found something called
“The Permanency Pact”. It’s a free tool created by Foster Club to encourage life-long connections
between a foster youth and a supportive adult.
It’s a sense of hope for a young person who may not have strong
connections. In Alabama, permanent connections for older foster youth are
becoming a major focus of the state. These
youth are in residential facilities, often moving around every 3-6 months, sometimes labeled as “problem children.” They
aren’t problem children. They are in a situation that no youth should have to
face without a caring adult to help them. Mentoring programs are limited and
many adults are often unaware of the challenges older youth in foster care
experience. I realized that education was key, so I began to present The
Permanency Pact as an option to these youth, stressing to them the importance
of making permanent connections.
With a Permanency Pact, the youth identifies all of the
adults in their life that could possibly be their life-long connection. It’s important that the youth choose their
permanent connection and it WILL NOT WORK if the individual is chosen for them.
Once chosen, the adult and youth should read through the thorough packet. A facilitator should be present, which could
be the DHR worker, a therapist, or caseworker.
The adult chosen should look through the detailed list of suggested
supports. Once the adult chooses their level
of commitment, the youth should review it to determine if they have additional
needs to discuss. Youth are encouraged
to choose more than one supportive adult and complete a pact with each one. Once the details have been determined, each
party should receive a completed copy of the Permanency Pact and certificate.
I am practicing what I preach and am currently completing a
Permanency Pact with a youth I met two years ago when I was her camp counselor. She and I have continued that relationship and
she confides in me when she needs a friendly ear. I was willing to make the commitment to be a supportive adult in her life for the rest of her life. While I cannot provide her a permanent home,
I feel the next best thing I can do is support her through life’s crazy
transitions. I am honored to be her
supportive adult.
How amazing would it be if every adult in Alabama made this
commitment to a youth in foster care? No matter
where the youth ends up, it would be great for them to know they have someone
to call. Sometimes they need somewhere to do laundry, somewhere to go for
Thanksgiving, someone to ask questions about car insurance, or someone to call
when they feel their case is going all wrong.
These are some examples of what these youth may need and this is what
the Permanency Pact provides, assurance that someone will be there. Permanency Pacts are not widely known in
Alabama at this time, but there are efforts to spread the word and I’m doing my
part to share the message.
Click here to download the Permanency Pact created by Foster Club.
