Post-Permanency Support for Tribal Nations
Post-Permanency Support for Tribal Nations is provided through the National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support (the Center). The Center is funded by the Children’s Bureau, an office of the Administration for Children & Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Spaulding for Children leads this initiative in partnership with five child welfare agencies that have expertise in post-permanency services.
Permanency for Native Children in Tribal Communities
The Center recognizes that termination of parental rights and formal adoption is not often the preferred permanency option for children served by tribal child welfare systems. Instead, guardianship or customary adoption, often with relatives, are more frequently the choice to achieve permanency for children who are unable to return to their parents.
Benefits of Post-Permanency Services
Achieving permanency is only part of the cycle of the child welfare system. Child welfare agencies, including tribal programs, have made great strides to increase permanency for children in their care. As more children and youth find permanence, it has become even more important to offer a comprehensive array of post-permanency services within all child welfare systems. Research has shown that post-permanency services have led to:
Fewer placement disruptions
Improved parenting skills and understanding of children and youth’s challenges
Higher levels of family functioning and connectedness
Fewer emotional and behavioral problems of children and youth
Increased parental ability to cope with those challenges if they persist
What We Offer
The Center provides access to various resources that will enable tribal nations to provide practical, accessible services to families that have achieved permanency through adoption or guardianship. Services provided by the Center are free of charge, collaborative and driven by community engagement.
The Center offers a unique opportunity for Tribal child welfare programs to develop services for families who are accepting a lifelong journey of permanence with a child. Tribes are encouraged to participate with on-site technical assistance that can support the development and implementation of supportive post-permanency services.
Who We Serve
The Center is a hub for universal and on-site technical assistance and other resources to support tribal nations, states, and territories (sites) as they develop and implement comprehensive, community centered and accessible post-permanency services.
