The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Accelerated Reunification Model program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Family Stabilization, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse
• Target Population: Families involved in the first time removal of a child within 24 - 48 hours of removal.

The Accelerated Reunification Model (ARM) involves a short-term intervention used with families experiencing a first time removal of a child due to imminent jeopardy. The goal is to facilitate a safe and rapid reunification in order to prevent lengthier out-of-home placements that result not from the imminent jeopardy to the child, but from the need to address other family risk factors that in and of themselves would not necessitate out-of-home placement. Casey’s Lifelong Families model is used to involve both the family’s natural support systems as well as collaterals and community support services that can assist the family once ARM interventions have ended. Facilitated visits for the purpose of assessment can be provided for the initial 15 days of the 30 day pre-reunification period. A need for extended facilitated visits, particularly for safety reasons, are an indication that ARM is not appropriate and other reunification services and supports should be provided.

The goals of the Accelerated Reunification Model (ARM) are to:

• Increase the number of successful reunifications as evidenced by the number of families who had been reunified within the model’s timeframes at the point of case closing.
• Decrease rate of recidivism as evidenced by reports from the referring Division for Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) offices on the status of cases closed 6 months or longer
• Reduce risk factors present at time of referral as evidenced by the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale - General and Reunification (NCFASG+R) at intake and case closing.
• Link every family to a Family Resource Center (FRC) in a meaningful way as evidenced by documentation of client participation in at least one FRC service as well as efforts to provide the family with information on the availability of services.
• Increase parenting capabilities as evidenced by the scores of the Adult/Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI) administered at intake and case closing.

The essential components of the Accelerated Reunification Model include:

• Casey Family Services Lifelong Families model is used in every case; team meetings are held within the first week of case opening and every two throughout the life of the case
• Use of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale in every case
• Use of the Nurturing Parent Skills curriculum individualized to each family
• Use of Adult/Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI)
• Therapist and case manager form team for each case

Accelerated Reunification Model was not designed with a child component.

Accelerated Reunification Model was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Referral criteria include neglect, including primary risk factors of domestic violence, substance abuse, lack of supervision, dirty house/unsanitary living conditions, and parental inability to provide appropriate supervision or care for the child (young parents, alleged mental health issues).

Treatment Involves Family/Support Structures:

This program involves the family or other support systems in the individual's treatment: Each client family is encouraged to invite any member of their natural support network to participate in twice monthly Lifelong Families permanency team meetings. The team will also assist the client in approaching family members or friends who have been estranged to invite them to become part of the team or natural support system during and after case closing.

Accelerated Reunification Model was not designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended Intensity:

In all cases, the number of contacts is defined by the specific needs of the case. There is a minimum of two contacts per week through the life of the case. Length of contact is also individualized to the case but 60 – 90 minutes is an average.

Recommended Duration:

The program is designed to be limited to 90 days, ideally up to 30 days of pre-reunification work followed by 60 days of post-reunification services. Extensions beyond that time frame are at the sole discretion of the referring state agency (Division for Children, Youth, and Families).

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Birth Family Home

This program does not include a homework component.

Accelerated Reunification Model does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• Clinician and case manager team, sharing caseloads of 6-8 families
• Reliable transportation capable of accommodating multiple children in car seats
• Access to car seats for transporting children
• Discretionary funds to assist families with gas/phone cards to make calls and appointments necessary to meet the case plan for reunification
• 24/7 availability for crisis intervention

Program supervisor must be a licensed social worker, psychologist. Clinicians need a master’s level degree in social work; case managers need a bachelor’s level degree.

There is not a manual that describes how to implement this program; but there is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Jennifer Delorme
  jdelorm@caseyfamilyservices.org
  phone: (603) 224-8909

Training is obtained:

Casey Family Services is available to provide technical assistance to agencies interested in developing services based on the Accelerated Reunification Model. There is no formal training curriculum for this program.

Number of days/hours:

Technical assistance only – see above.

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Accelerated Reunification Model.

No reference materials are currently available for Accelerated Reunification Model.