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

• Types of Maltreatment: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Physical Neglect, Emotional Abuse, Exposure to Domestic Violence
• Target Population: Families with children ages 0-17 being reunified from foster care or relative placement.

The program is designed to assist in an early return to a permanent family for children in out-of-home foster care placement. In addition, it is designed to reduce repeat placement through a planned process of reunifying children in out-of-home care with their families using a variety of services. It is also designed to provide support in achieving and maintaining permanency in the family home.

• The team leader provides clinical, in-home counseling, and works in conjunction with a family worker who addresses the non-clinical needs of the family (budgeting, parenting, case management, etc)
• Twelve families are served per team at one time. Each team serves 24-36 families per year.
• The program is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Specific Assistance funds are used to meet family needs.
• Direct therapeutic, supportive, and concrete services are used.
• Thorough assessments measuring on-going strengths, needs, safety, and risk are performed.
• The Initial Service Plan includes goals, action plans, progress reports.
• Respite care for children is available for up to five days.
• Included in this model are a parent education component, quarterly parent workshops, and quarterly family activities.
• Referrals to the program may be made up to 30 days prior to the reunification.

Michigan Family Reunification Program was not designed with a child component.

Michigan Family Reunification Program was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Corporal punishment, neglect, inappropriate developmental expectations, trust and safety issues.

Michigan Family Reunification Program was not designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended Intensity:

An average of 4 hours of face-to-face contact per week. This weekly contact is conducted in single or multiple contacts depending on the needs of the family. The number of hours is higher, 8 or more, during the two weeks following reunification of the child(ren).

Recommended Duration:

4-6 months Average of 4 hours per week during this intervention, with 8 or more hours per week during the first two weeks following reunification.

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Birth Family Home

This program does not include a homework component.

Michigan Family Reunification Program does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• The family home and/or community

Special events, such as workshops, group family activities, and the parent education component may be held within a provider agency's building, but we recommend they be within the community.

• Team leader – Master's degree in human services, preferably social worker
• Worker – Bachelor's degree in human services
• Supervisor – Bachelor's degree in human services

There is a manual that describes how to implement this program, and there is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Zoe Lyons
  Lyonsz2@Michigan.gov
  phone: (517) 241-8297

Training is obtained:

Informal Consultation.

Number of days/hours:

Informal, no set number of days or hours.

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 Michigan Family Reunification Program.