ABSTRACT
This chapter features lessons learned from innovative organizations that have transformed their residential interventions focusing their practice models on permanency and strengthening, building and maintaining lifelong, supportive family relationships while also building the skills youth and families need for life in the community—even seeking family for young people when necessary. Success is measured by whether residential interventions help youth achieve progress toward permanency, defined as returning to and then remaining with family or developing new and lasting family relationships. The chapter emphasizes implementation and how significant yet manageable adjustments to organizational leadership and culture can support permanency practice change. Practice strategies, useful tools, and pragmatic guidance are provided to enact permanency principles, approaches, and priorities in residential intervention. These methods include self-assessment tools, family search and engagement strategies, ways to advance youth-driven and family-guided teaming, and readiness for permanency.
