Wanda had been in foster care for seven years before coming to Casey Family Services at age 14. She had experienced a number of placements, including a residential treatment program to no avail, and needed a new approach in order to find permanency.
Enter: the Lifelong Families approach. Casey moved Wanda from a group home into a Casey foster home. The Casey social worker met with Wanda and her resource parents, the Martins, to explain her role in getting Wanda out of foster care and into a family.
Wanda, through Casey, was able to identify and bring together the important people in her life to determine the best possible outcome. This brief case study gives an overview of Wanda’s experience. Wanda's case study also reinforces the values, principle components and benefits of the model. The Lifelong Families model is intended to serve as a method of improving foster care practice within private child welfare agencies and advancing permanency outcomes for older youth with high levels of need.
Wanda’s behavior and experiences through the process brought about concerns from her foster family about adoption. Working with the permanency team, Wanda received the treatment and support she needed while the Martins were prepared to meet Wanda’s specific needs. The family still receives support to ensure the family is happy and the adoption is successful for everyone.
