Page 5372 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990

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PERMANENCY PLANNING IS BASED ON THE VIEW THAT EVERY CHILD IS ENTITLED T0, AND NEEDS, A STABLE HOME. IT FOCUSES ON THE NEED FOR PROMPT DECISIVE ACTION TO MAINTAIN CHILDREN IN THEIR OWN HOMES OR PLACE THEM PERMANENTLY WITH OTHER FAMILIES. IT ALSO INVOLVES ACHIEVING, FOR A CHILD, COMMITMENT AND CONTINUITY IN RELATIONSHIPS AND A DEFINITIVE LEGAL AND SOCIAL STATUS.

THERE ARE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS CONCEPT NEEDING CAREFUL AND DETAILED DISCUSSIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, LEGAL PROCESSES THAT SANCTION PERMANENCY PLANNING ARE REQUIRED AND NEED TO BE ACCEPTED EVEN WHEN PARENTAL RIGHTS HAVE TO BE TERMINATED IN THE INTERESTS OF A CHILD. IN A PERMANENCY PLANNING MODEL, SUBSTITUTE CARE BECOMES A TEMPORARY, TIME LIMITED PROGRAM WITH INTENSIVE FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES CONSTITUTING THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PART OF PROGRAMS. THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE IMPLICATIONS HERE FOR PLACEMENT OPTIONS AND FOR AGENCIES CURRENTLY OPERATING PROGRAMS AND FOR STAFF EXPERTISE. THE CURRENT LEGISLATION ALLOWS SOME SCOPE FOR THE APPLICATION OF NOTIONS OF PERMANENCY PLANNING IN INDIVIDUAL CASES. HOWEVER, THE ACT NEEDS TO BE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED IF PERMANENCY PLANNING AS A CONCEPT IS TO BE MORE GENERALLY APPLIED.

AT THIS STAGE I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASISE MY SUPPORT FOR THOSE

RECOMMENDATIONS THAT AIM AT DEVELOPING A SINGLE CO-ORDINATED

WELFARE SYSTEM IN THE A.C.T AND MY CONCERN THAT PROCESSES ARE

BEGUN TO IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. MANY INITIATIVES

ALREADY TAKEN HAVE BEGUN THIS PROCESS BUT NOW WE NEED TO MOVE

TOWARDS THIS GOAL WITH A FIRM COMMITMENT FROM ALL AGENCIES FOR

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