Create life books for youth in care

About this recommendation

A life book captures a child's key milestones and relationshps, and it should follow them throughout (and after) their time in care.

How to do this

• Print a lifebook template.
• Make completing the lifebook a formal resource parent responsibility. Check on its contents during regular check-ins such as monthly visits.
• Make copies of the lifebook for the family members of origin on a regular cadence. This should be at least quarterly.
• Make sure a child's lifebook follows them by including it in any move checklists, as well as in any permanency (e.g., aging out, adoption) checklists.

Anticipated costs and benefits

Who's doing this

1 of 54 states and territories have implemented this recommendation.

• Frederick County, MD has three templates you can print and put in a three-ring notebook: Zig Zags, Floral, Triangles.