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Improving Reunification Outcomes PDF Print E-mail
On May 30, the National Family Preservation Network (NFPN) participated in a teleconference for state foster care and adoption managers, sponsored by the National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice/Permanency Planning and the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). The topic of the teleconference was Reunification, and NFPN would like to share a summary of our presentation with you.

Public child welfare agencies, in general, have a goal of reunification for about half of the children in out-of-home placement and generally achieve this goal. The best child welfare systems, such as the Allegheny Department of Human Services in Pittsburgh, reunify 80% of children in out-of-home placement with their families. This begs the questions of what factors affect reunification and how reunifications can be increased without increasing re-entry into foster care.

Research studies show that factors affecting less-likely reunifications include:
  • history of family violence,
  • parental ambivalence,
  • lack of resolution of family problems, and
  • lack of visitation between parents and children prior to reunification.
In 2000 NFPN, in cooperation with Dr. Ray Kirk, developed an assessment tool to address the factors involved with reunification. The North Carolina Family Assessment Scale for Reunification (NCFAS-R) measures the degree of:
  • parental/child ambivalence,
  • disrupted attachment,
  • pre-reunification home visits,
  • resolution of significant risk factors,
  • completion of case service plans,
  • resolution of legal issues,
  • parent understanding of child treatment needs, and
  • established back-up supports and service plans.

Following development of the tool, the NCFAS-R was field tested in three sites (Washington State, Missouri, and the City of Indianapolis) with intensive reunification programs. The research study on the tool established its reliability and validity. In addition, the programs met federal standards for reunifying families (76%) and prevention of re-entry (only 6% of the children were placed out-of-home within a year). CWLA awarded “Commendable Practice” status to the NCFAS-R tool. In 2002 NFPN developed a training package for the NCFAS-R tool, now used in over 150 agencies nationwide.

Dr. Kirk has subsequently recommended a 3-stage model for reunification.
  • Stage 1 is preparatory in which the worker meets with the parents and addresses the issues of ambivalence and readiness for the child’s return. Pre-reunification visits are also held during this stage.
  • Stage 2 is marked by the delivery of intensive services with the NCFAS-R assessment tool opening ratings completed early in the intervention. This stage ends with completion of intensive services and completion of the closing ratings for the NCFAS-R.
  • Stage 3 involves “step-down” services in which reunification or aftercare workers are available to help resolve any remaining issues. This stage provides a safety net for reunification cases and helps to prevent re-entry.

As previously mentioned, Allegheny County reunifies a high percentage of families. Their success seems to hinge on speed and intensity. If reunification will not be completed within 30 days, a permanency planning conference is scheduled. Everyone involved with the case is invited to attend. The group develops goals and an action plan that become part of the case record. Case conferences are held every three months, twice the frequency required by the state, and court reviews are also held every three months. The goal is to achieve reunification within one year. Allegheny County celebrates successful reunifications with an annual event for families.

NFPN is currently conducting a study on intensive reunification cases to determine if outcomes for intensive reunification programs differ from those for intensive preservation. The factors of race, type of referring problem, substance abuse, and step-down services will also be looked at in reunification cases.

 NFPN plans to use the findings from all of these studies to develop a model for reunification. We are seeking partners in statewide, regional, or county public child welfare agencies to test this model.


For a more detailed overview of reunification, see the Intensive Family Reunification Services Protocol.

For more information about the NCFAS-R tool and training package, visit Reunification.

For more information about an effective child welfare system, see the Monograph on Allegheny County.

If you are interested in partnering with NFPN to test a model for reunification, please This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , NFPN Executive Director.
 
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