Specialized Permanency Services: Fostering Lifelong Connections

Every child and youth needs a permanent family–and for too many who grow up in the child welfare system, this remains elusive. Specialized Permanency Services, now required by law in the state of California, are designed to help ensure children and youth (including nonminor dependents) achieve a family permanence. Specialized permanency services are designed for and with the child to address the child's history of trauma, separation and loss.

In this two-day course you will:

Learn the definition of Specialized Permanency Services and which children are most likely need these services
(Re)Connect with the urgency and immediacy of creating permanent connections for youth
Examine the reasons some children do not receive timely permanency
Develop a Transition Plan for a child/youth to minimize future trauma
Practice applying strategies to help a child/youth who does not have permanency and whose circumstances present challenges to obtaining permanency
Review the Specialized Permanency laws and policies that apply to all children and those specifically relevant for Indian children
Learn approaches, strategies, and success stories that can be immediately applied to practice

During this two-day, interactive course, each participant will work with a small team to tackle a complex, yet typical case involving a youth who has remained in care for years. Permanency efforts "through the eyes of the child/youth" is an enduring and prominent theme throughout the course.

CEUs

1.1

Section Number

244FAM306

Instruction Method

Online class

Section Notes

The format of this virtual training will be on Zoom. You will receive login information via email once your enrollment has been received.

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Section Schedule

Mon., Jun 2nd, 2025, 9:00am to 12:00pm

Wed., Jun 4th, 2025, 9:00am to 12:00pm

Tues., Jun 10th, 2025, 9:00am to 12:00pm

Wed., Jun 11th, 2025, 9:00am to 12:00pm

Fees

Instructors

Parker Terese

Parker Terese, M.S.W., is led by purpose, receiving zir Master’s of Social Work while also inspiring people to pursue higher education through mentorship, social media and public speaking. Parker has served those impacted by the foster care and juvenile justice systems since 2014, as a mentor for Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Educational Opportunity Program in San Bernardino, CA. Ze has worked to rebuild a youth-led chapter in San Bernardino County and champion legislative and policy change through zir role as an advocate and statewide policy coordinator for one of the leading youth-led organizations in California. Parker uses zir voice to train child welfare professionals on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, Extended Foster Care, and many other topics.

Avni Panchal

Avni Panchal, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with over 10 years of child welfare and behavioral health experience. She has her own private practice where she offers individual, couples’ therapy and services for organizations like dialogue circles, coaching and consulting. She offers a wide range of trainings for professionals in the field, including trauma-informed practice, mindfulness, assessing for safety and risk, fairness and equity, SOGIE, engagement and interviewing, sexual harassment, workplace violence, introduction to social services and more. As a person of color, Panchal works to decolonize social work and mental health so that there can be more than one approach for a thriving life. Panchal also teaches part-time with San Francisco State University's Social Work Department.