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Concurrent planning: benefits and pitfalls
1Northwest Institute for Children and Families, University of Washington School of Social Work, Seattle, USA.
Insights
Concurrent planning aids children in foster care by pursuing reunification and alternative permanency. Awareness of potential challenges is crucial for maximizing benefits and reducing child trauma.
Area of Science:
- Child Welfare Research
- Family Services
- Social Work Practice
Background:
- Concurrent planning was developed for young, chronically neglected children in out-of-home care.
- This approach addresses the needs of children from multiproblem families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To inform national implementation of concurrent planning programs.
- To highlight potential pitfalls and benefits of concurrent planning.
Main Methods:
- The abstract does not specify methods, but implies analysis of program implementation.
Main Results:
- Concurrent planning aims to reduce trauma for children in placement.
- Awareness of implementation challenges is key to effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Concurrent planning offers benefits for children in out-of-home care.
- Effective implementation requires understanding and mitigating potential pitfalls.
Abstract:
Concurrent planning-working with families toward reunification while developing alternative permanency plans--was designed to fit an out-of-home care population much like that projected for the year 2000 and beyond: very young, chronically neglected children from multiproblem families. As large-scale programs begin to develop nationally, those implementing concurrent planning must be aware of the pitfalls that can undercut its effectiveness, while keeping in mind the benefits it can bring by reducing the trauma experienced by children in placement.