What is the primary aim of permanency planning for a child?

• A. A stable, permanent home through reunification, adoption, guardianship, or other permanency options
• B. Short-term foster care with periodic reviews
• C. Regular placement without a long-term plan
• D. Only adoption as outcome

Answer: (B)

Permanency planning aims to secure a stable, long-lasting home for the child. The goal is to move toward a permanent arrangement—whether that’s reunification with the birth family when safe, or a permanent outcome such as adoption, guardianship, or another enduring option—so the child has a durable, legally recognized place to belong. This focus on a final, lasting placement helps prevent ongoing drift in foster care and supports the child’s ongoing safety, stability, and well-being.

The other descriptions describe interim or incomplete outcomes rather than a lasting solution. Short-term foster care with periodic reviews represents ongoing, temporary care without guaranteeing permanence. Regular placement without a long-term plan lacks a definitive path to a permanent home. And limiting the outcome to adoption excludes other viable permanent options like reunification or guardianship, which are also central to permanency planning.