For children who require placement, individual assessment can reveal w
hether return to the parents, termination of parental rights and adopt
ion, relative placement, transfer of guardianship, or innovative place
ment and open adoption arrangements, such as the neighborhood program
of The Center for Family Life, represents the least harmful option for
the child. Nevertheless, certain guiding principles should prevail: p
sychological continuity of at least one significant nurturing protecti
ve adult and decisions based on the least detrimental alternative, acc
ording to the child's sense of time.