Definition for Reunification:

Almost half a million children are in foster care or other out-of-home placements in the United States. For 50% of these children, the case goal is reunification, or returning them to their biological parents, as quickly and safely as possible. To assist with reunification, child welfare provides services to the child and the child's parents. These services are time-limited and geared towards addressing the causes for the child's removal and placement into foster care. While reunification services are specific to the cause for removal, there are common services that should be considered for all families. These include visitation between parent and child, visitation between siblings (if separated), and case management services from the social worker. Other services that are typically part of reunification services are parent training, anger management, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment for the child and parent(s), and domestic violence services, many of these areas have been reviewed by the CEBC.