Cecilia entered the foster care system in 2000 when she was 2 ½ years old. She has been in multiple foster placements and has been moved from several placements because her foster parents were not able to manage her behaviors. When the youth first came to live with her current caregivers, the Shires family expressed to the youth’s Child Welfare Worker that they were very interested in adopting Cecilia at some point in the future. CWW Bob Cadlix cautioned the Shires family that they were most likely in the “honeymoon” phase with Cecilia, because she was seen to be a very impressionable and socially active child who had a history of explosive behavior in response to her perception that her desires and wants were not being met. Bob referred the youth and her caregivers and Project Permanence (PP) began providing services to Cecilia and her foster family in May 2010.

During the Project’s work with the family Cecilia and her foster parents have had a handful of disagreements and faced challenges to their relationship. In the past, Cecilia would have reacted strongly to such disagreements, which have historically led to placement changes. Cecilia is seen weekly by her Community Liaison and other members of the wrap team. Cecilia has responded very well to their support. With Project Permanence’s support Cecilia was able to work through the disagreements with her foster parents and develop a stronger, more trusting relationship with them. The Project is approaching the 10-month mark of providing services to the family. Cecilia has become more stable in her home and school. Cecilia has a new mentor that will replace the role of the Project Permanence Community Liaison. With the tools and resources Project Permanence has provided, Cecilia is close to successfully stabilizing within her permanent placement. Cecilia has been living with her current foster family since March 2010, and they plan to adopt her.