Legal Definitions - permanency-planning hearing

A permanency-planning hearing is a type of court hearing that determines the future, permanent status of a child in foster care. It is held under the Adoption and Safe Families Act and replaces the term disposition hearing. The hearing must occur within 12 months of a child's being placed in foster care. The purpose of the hearing is to determine the final direction of the case, whether that means going forward with termination proceedings or continuing plans for family reunification.

Example: A child has been in foster care for 10 months, and the court schedules a permanency-planning hearing to determine whether the child will be returned to their parents or if termination proceedings will begin.

This example illustrates how a permanency-planning hearing is used to determine the permanent status of a child in foster care and make decisions about their future.