Family Finding
Intended Audience
- Child Welfare Workers
- Child Welfare Supervisors
- Social Services Non-child Welfare
Targeted Age Group(s)
- 0-9
- 10-12
- 13-17
- 18 or older
QIC-EY Engagement Model Components (i) The engagement model components were identified through the QIC-EY Environmental Scan as critical to the support of youth engagement in the attainment of permanence.
- Engage Specialized Staff
- Prioritize Legal, Relational and Cultural Permanence
Description
The Family Finding model was developed by permanency expert Kevin Campbell to ensure that children and youth in foster care are connected to family and other supportive adults who will love and care for them now and across their life span. Family Finding stresses the importance of emotional permanency for children and asserts that stable relationships can provide a sense of security and belonging, which builds resilience and coping skills for children and youth, better preparing them for adulthood. The goals of the Family Finding model include:
- to support foster youth to develop meaningful and enduring connections with adults who will support them across their life span.
- to ensure safe and stable, family-based living arrangements.
- to support youth to develop a healthy sense of identity and to regain dignity.
- to increase connectedness.
- to enhance family-driven decision-making.
- to prevent recidivism within or between formal service systems.
Essential elements include urgency in pursuing supportive relationships with adults, expanding permanency to include a sense of belonging, identifying 40 or more relative or other meaningful connections for each youth and developing multiple plans for permanency.
The Family Finding model is composed of six well-defined steps that are further delineated by a number of specific tasks. The six steps include discovery, engagement, planning, decision-making, evaluation and follow-up with supports.
Implementation Considerations
A manual describes how to deliver the program. There is also a training conducted by a qualified trainer. This typically is done on site but may be arranged as a regional training. The full training package consists of 6 days of trainer facilitation followed by 6 months of regular phone consultation and support. Consultation may continue after 6 months, as needed. A 1-2-day training also is available as an introduction to the model.
Qualified trainers are associated with the National Institute for Family Finding and Permanency and include the developer, Kevin Campbell.