Normalcy Promotes Confidence and Connection for Young People
At the fall SWAN Quarterly Meetings held regionally throughout October, the SWAN legal training specialists led an insightful morning general session titled Navigating Normalcy: Understanding the Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard. The presentation explored how child welfare professionals and caregivers can support the healthy development of youth in out-of-home care by promoting normal, age-appropriate experiences.
When children are removed from their homes, they lose the routines and freedoms that make up a “normal” childhood. The concept of normalcy—enshrined in Pennsylvania’s Activities and Experiences for Children in Out-of-Home Placement Act (Act 75 of 2015)—seeks to restore those experiences. The trainers emphasized that for youth who have endured trauma, safe and developmentally appropriate opportunities to participate in everyday activities can be deeply healing.
The Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard, which stems from the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014, gives trained caregivers the authority to make day-to-day decisions about a child’s participation in activities without prior agency or court approval. Whether it’s attending a sleepover, joining a sports team, taking a trip, or getting a part-time job, these experiences teach responsibility, build confidence, and foster belonging.
Applying this standard requires careful consideration of each child’s age, maturity, and unique circumstances—including cognitive and emotional development, disability, identity, and lived experience. The training encouraged professionals to move beyond a simple “yes” or “no” approach and instead ask, “What can we do to make this possible?” Balancing independence with safety, and communication with both youth and agencies, is key to making sound, supportive decisions.
The trainers also noted that while caregivers have broad discretion under this law, certain decisions—such as those involving education, religion, or major medical care—remain the responsibility of parents or the court. Importantly, caregivers acting in good faith under the standard are protected from liability, provided they are properly trained and do not violate court orders.
Ultimately, the Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard is more than a legal guideline—it’s a commitment to helping youth in care experience life more fully. By embracing normalcy, caregivers and child welfare professionals give young people the chance to grow, thrive, and prepare for adulthood with confidence and connection.
For more information on this and other child welfare laws, see the SWAN Permanency Toolkit. For questions about these laws, contact the Legal Warmline by email or by phone at 888-793-2512.