What is the Reunification Process?

When a child is placed into the foster care system, the goal is to protect the child and to allow them to grow up in a healthy, stable, safe environment. While for many the objective is for reunification with the birth family, it is important to remember that that is not always the best option for the child. When a child has been successfully reunified with their parents, Social Services has deemed the home safe for the child’s return. A reunification marks the closure of their case and the child is no longer part of the foster care system. 

The goal of reunification 

Each foster care journey begins with the goal of reunification. At the time a foster care journey begins, the parents are given specific goals to achieve, in a timely manner, to be reunited with their children. Overall, a large percentage of children can return to their families. On the contrary, there are those who have their parental rights terminated, whether at the bequest of the courts or of their own cognition. At which point a child’s parental rights have been terminated, the child will be placed for adoption. While reunification is the goal and is typically pursued, it is not always the safest option for the child. 

When a child is placed in foster care

When a child is placed in foster, their parent(s) are given a case plan with all the actions that they must complete to have their children return home. Children are removed from their homes when the situation they are in is deemed unsafe. The case plan given is intended to rectify any issues that are considered unsafe and to create a more stable home environment. Some examples of case plans include counseling, drug testing, parenting classes, health assessments, home visits, stable employment, and income, etc.…

There is no guarantee

There is no guaranteed time frame for how long a child will remain in foster care. Some cases are short-term, and reunification can happen within weeks; others can drag on for years. If the time frame stretches into years, quite often the reunification plan will also have a concurrent plan for adoption. The state will begin to acknowledge that the parents may not be able to complete all the tasks. The most important thing is to be sure the child is safe. 

The courts find satisfaction only in keeping children safe. Their desire is always for reunification if/when it is a possibility. It is important to have legal representation who is well versed in reunification processes and case plans. Having a legal team ready and willing to assist in reuniting you with your children can make all the difference. And for foster families, having legal representation that understands the implications of your fostering is vital to your success in helping a child in need.