Family Reunification in Child Welfare

The Families Rising Philosophy

Families Rising advocates for family reunification as a critical component of child welfare, focusing on the benefits and processes involved in restoring children to their first families and/or birth parents when it is in their best interest. In the 2024 report from the National Council for Adoption, they found that “Just under half (45%) of children who exited foster care were reunified with their families, while 27% were adopted and 11% exited into guardianship placements.”

We advocate for:

• A Child-Centered Approach: This approach prioritizes the well-being and specific needs of the child in foster care and/or the adoption process. This ensures that their voice is heard and considered in the reunification process.
• Support for First Families: Organizations and agencies should offer comprehensive post-care support services for the whole family, tailored to address the specific challenges that led to the child’s initial separation. Focusing on this helps facilitate a successful and sustainable reunification.
• Intentional Check-Ins: Ongoing support is key. The work done post-reunification helps maintain family stability and ensure the child’s safety. Post-care services should be in partnership with the family to assess needs, set goals, coordinate services, build and reinforce learned skills, and provide crisis intervention.

At Families Rising, we believe reunification is integral to our mission of promoting family preservation and enhancing the holistic well-being of children (such as a sense of self). We believe that the efforts made after reunification play a vital role in fostering whole family stability and ensuring the child’s safety.

Practice and Policy Recommendations:

1. Early and Continuous Engagement:
   • Engage first families in the child welfare process at the earliest opportunity. Organizations should provide clear information, resources, and support to navigate the path to reunification (Children’s Bureau. (2020). StrengtheningOpens in a new tab Family Engagement within the Child Welfare System)Opens in a new tab.
   • Offer counseling and rehabilitation services to address issues like substance use, mental health disorders, or domestic violence. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2019). Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 57: Trauma-Informed Care in Opens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabBehavioralOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab Health ServicesOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab).
2. Intensive Family Support Services:
   • Provide access to family support programs such as parenting classes, financial literacy education, and other resources to help families create stable homes. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). (2019). ParentingOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab Skill-Building ResourcesOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab).
   • Facilitate access to housing, employment assistance, and healthcare to alleviate external challenges that can hurt successful reunification.
3. Legal and Advocacy Support:
   • Ensure that families have access to legal counsel and advocacy support so that their best interests are represented throughout the reunification process.
   • Work with legal systems to expedite processes where possible, reducing the time children spend in foster care.
     (American Bar Association. (2019). Legal Representation for Families Opens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabinOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab Child Welfare CasesOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab.)
4. Post-Reunification Support:
   • Implement post-reunification support programs, including regular in-home support and continued access to mental health and social services. (Casey Family Programs. (2025). What strategies facilitate safe family reunification?).
     1. One such program is the Success Opens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabCoachOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab, which provides an array of voluntary services to children ages 0-18 and their families when they leave foster care for a permanent placement (reunification or adoption). In order to reach their development potential and to prepare adequately for adulthood, children and their caregivers require significant quality interventions and support while the children transition from foster care to post-care.
   • Establish a support network of peers and professionals where parents can seek guidance and find community during the post-reunification stage. (Casey Family Programs. (2025). What strategies facilitate safe family reunification?).Opens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab)
5. Evaluation and Adjustment of Reunification Plans:
   • Regularly evaluate the outcomes of reunification efforts to ensure they are providing positive outcomes for child wellness, safety, and family stability. (Administration for Children and Families (ACF). (2021). Measuring Opens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOutcomesOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab.
   • When needed, adjust reunification plans to respond to new challenges or changes in family dynamics. (Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2019). Family Reunification: What the Evidence ShowsOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab).

A recent studyOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tabOpens in a new tab from the NIH underscores the complexity of reunification and suggests focusing on tailored, family-centered policies to enhance the stability and well-being of reunified families. By outlining these practices and policies, Families Rising aims to share the importance of a thoughtful, well-supported approach to reunification, ensuring that it is handled as safely and effectively as possible to provide the best outcomes for children and families.