Topic: Post-Reunification Services

Definition for Post-Reunification Services:

Post-Reunification Services (also called after-care services) are defined by the CEBC as programs or services to prevent re-report to Child Welfare Services (CWS) and/or re-entry to foster care/out-of-home placement after the family has been reunified. Reunification is the most common permanency plan for children in out-of-home care and nationally, over half (53.4%) of children exiting out-of-home care in 2020 were reunified. However, some families struggle after reunification and, depending on the state, between 3% and 16% of children re-entered foster care within 12 months of reunification. When examined over longer periods, studies show that between 20% and 40% of children re-enter foster care within 5 years.

There is increasing recognition that a child’s and family’s needs do not end at the time of reunification, as many of the underlying issues that led to the initial placement may still be present or at risk of re-occurring. To prevent future maltreatment and re-entry, post-reunification services need to be consistently offered, sufficiently available, and tailored to meet the specific needs of the child and family, Including racial, ethnic, and cultural needs. Post-reunification services may include clinical services (e.g., mental health therapy, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence intervention, crisis intervention, etc.), material or financial services (e.g., income support, job training, health care coverage, housing assistance, etc.); and support systems (e.g., respite care, peer support groups, family strengthening, linkages with the health and education systems and other community-based services, etc.).

• Target population: Reunified families with children who previously have had an out-of-home placement
• Services/types that fit: Clinical, material, financial, and support system services
• Delivered by: CWS staff, contracted providers, behavioral health professionals, and trained paraprofessionals
• In order to be included: Program must deliver either short-term higher level of placement services or services designed to be an alternative to placement in higher levels of care, or must train staff and/or caregivers to deliver these services
• In order to be rated: There must be research evidence (as specified by the Scientific Rating Scale) that examines reunification-related outcomes, such as post-reunification maltreatment reports and re-entries to out-of-home care.