Opportunity Planning

Abstract This final chapter opens with Sandra Feldman’s thought experiment, “The Childswap Society,” in which children are randomly redistributed to families through a national lottery, forcing society to ensure that all children receive what they need to thrive. The fable highlights America’s terrible acceptance of extreme inequality in children’s life chances based on the circumstances of their birth. While the fight for social justice and equality of opportunity is central to all we do, foster care represents our collective responsibility to children who require temporary care outside of their families—for any number of complex reasons. Despite the challenges, most foster children reunite with family members or are adopted and loved by another. But for the system “outliers,” that can be unattainable—many leave without family support, adequate preparation, or opportunity to break out of poverty and succeed on their own. The final chapter describes a new(ish) approach, called Opportunity Planning, intended as a companion to permanency planning, designed to empower these kids to acquire the essential ingredients needed to live a full and productive life. Pain and Promise then closes with some final reflections from Aron.