ABSTRACT
The concept of permanence first took root in the US in the 1970s (Barry and Pelton, 1994) and soon became an important principle of child welfare practice both within the UK (Thoburn, 1980) as well as in other countries. The concept is based on the view that children benefit from living in stable, loving family environments that can last indefinitely. While it is expected that as children mature the role of family and their role within family will alter, it is nevertheless assumed that the importance of family has life-long significance for most people and provides the best opportunities for meeting the needs of children.
