June is National Reunification Month
National Reunification Month is celebrated each June with the purpose of recognizing the people and ongoing efforts around the country that help families stay together (Contreras, 2022). Reunification refers to the “processes that lead to reconnecting a child with their biological or primary caretakers” (Camelot, n.d.).
Reunification programs are designed to support children and birth families being reunified after there is child welfare involvement (CEBC, n.d.). Approximately half a million children in the United States are in foster care or other out-of-home placements (CEBC, n.d.). According to the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, the case goal is reunification (returning children to their biological parents) as safely and quickly as possible for approximately 50% of the children in the U.S. in foster care out-of-home placements (n.d.).
Therefore, reunification is the most common goal after child welfare involvement. Child welfare agencies are encouraged to make reasonable efforts to keep families together when safe to do so and to provide services that support reunification. These services include parenting programs, mental health support, and access to kinship care. Child welfare agencies also work toward reunification by implementing trauma-informed, family-centered approaches to build the strength of the family and engage parents, youth, and other family members (CWIG).
Child protection and out-of-home care workers are responsible for determining whether parents have a realistic possibility of reunification; their assessments shape reunification outcomes. So, understanding their distinct viewpoints provides valuable insight into how this system operates.
Different Professional Viewpoints on the “Realistic Possibility of Reunification” for Parents With Children in Care
A recent study entitled “Strengths, compliance, or deficits: examining professional viewpoints on the ‘realistic possibility of reunification’ for parents with children in care” from The Journal of Public Child Welfare identifies three perspectives among practitioners (Luu et al., 2025):
- Optimistic, strength-focused approach
- Compliance-focused approach
- Deficit-focused approach
The first approach was chosen by more than half of the participants (more than 15 out of 30). It is based on best practices in trauma-informed care. Professionals with this attitude focus on parents’ capacity for change, existing strengths, and supportive relationships. They also
consider the context of parents’ behavior, including trauma histories and systemic disadvantages.
The second approach offers less flexibility. It is more rule-oriented. Professionals in the last group hold very high standards for parenting. They tend to be critical of parents who have experienced past unsuccessful reunifications, and even those who have resolved the issues that initially led to the child’s removal. The authors highlight cases where some workers may tolerate parental cannabis use, while others consider it definitive grounds for denying reunification.
Compliance-focused and deficit-focused attitudes can result in a lack of support for parents’ needs. In these cases, workers’ standards may be unrealistically high, as past failures or perceived limitations (such as intellectual disability) are treated as strong indicators against reunification, regardless of progress made.
These contrasting approaches underscore the importance of adopting flexible, trauma-informed practices in child welfare. Recognizing parents’ capacity for change and providing consistent, individualized support can help promote better outcomes for both children and families. When families receive the right support, they’re better equipped to safely care for their children, reducing the likelihood of reentry into the system.
Furthermore, effective collaboration with relatives is key to this work. Resources like Colaborando con parientes para promover la reunificación highlight how involving extended family not only strengthens support networks but also ensures that cultural and linguistic needs are met. This culturally-responsive approach enhances relational permanency—the emotional security and sense of belonging children need to thrive, even if legal permanency is still in progress.
Tools and Resources to Deepen Support
There are many valuable resources available to help foster care professionals, caregivers, and community members better support children and families involved in the child welfare system:
- Kinship Care and the Child Welfare System: Learn more about the role of kinship care in maintaining family and cultural ties and how this model supports long-term stability for children.
- Reasonable Efforts to Preserve or Reunify Families and Achieve Permanency for Children: A comprehensive look at how agencies can make consistent, thoughtful efforts to reunite families when safe and appropriate.
- Colaborando con parientes para promover la reunificación (Partnering With Relatives to Promote Reunification): A Spanish-language guide offering culturally responsive approaches to family reunification.
Reunification Month is an important time to recognize the mission of reuniting families, which our Center supports by providing training for social workers. Some of our training offerings, especially “Engaging the Non-Resident Father for Child Welfare Staff,” work toward the goal of reunification and help equip social workers with the resources and knowledge they need to safely and effectively make decisions while working with families.
Learn more by exploring the Center for Family and Community Engagement’s training offerings.
