What is Family Reunification?

June is National Reunification Month, a time to honor the vital role family plays in a child’s life and to raise awareness about the complex circumstances that lead to foster care placement. It’s also an opportunity to emphasize the importance of safely reuniting children with their biological families whenever possible, in environments where they can heal, grow, and thrive.  

Why Family Reunification is the Primary Goal of Foster Care:

According to the Arkansas Department of Human Services, “For families whose children are in foster care, DCFS strives to help these families achieve permanency. Permanency varies by case and can happen in several ways. It can come in the form of reunification, when children who have been removed from their biological families and temporarily placed in foster care until they can safely reunite with their families.” Read more here. The goal of family reunification can only be achieved when it is safe and appropriate to do so. When a child is removed from their home and enters foster care, the first priority is to place them with biological relatives. If no relatives are available, the next preference is familiar caregivers (such as neighbors, teachers, or family friends). If neither option is possible, the state then seeks community members who are licensed, approved, and willing to foster. Research shows that placing children with biological relatives or familiar caregivers significantly supports their emotional and behavioral well-being. 

“There are many factors that influence a child’s path into foster care. Parents who lose their children to the system often face issues that are unbeatable. Systemic barriers such as poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health struggles, or lack of support often lead biological families to lose their right to guardianship.” 

– Jillana Goble, Foster Parent 

As challenging as the process of reunification can be for those who are involved, children everywhere have a fundamental right to their families of origin whenever it is safe. The foster care system’s primary goal is reunification, reflecting its commitment to preserving and restoring families in Arkansas. 

“As a foster parent, there is a profound opportunity here to root for a parent to be reunited with their child(ren) and to be someone standing in their corner, cheering them on as they reunite with their children after being separated by foster care.” 

– Jillana Goble, Foster Parent 

What Does the Family Reunification Process Look Like? 

For a child, long-term foster care can result in instability, multiple placements, disrupted attachments, and emotional difficulties. Safe reunification offers children a chance at permanency with people who share their history. 

• In the context of child welfare, reunification is always the preferred outcome. This ensures the system works toward family preservation before pursuing other permanency options.
• There are circumstances where reunification may not be pursued. In cases involving severe abuse and neglect, a court may determine that reunification services are not required. In those instances, the focus shifts to alternative permanency options like adoption.
• Reunification only happens after parents have met court-ordered case plan goals, like addressing issues such as substance abuse, mental health challenges, or unsafe living conditions. Child welfare agencies, courts, and social workers carefully assess whether a child can safely return home.   
• Reunification is essential as it protects a child’s right to family and offers a path toward healing. It honors the idea that with the right support families can recover, rebuild, and nurture their children. 

When you get involved as a foster parent, you have a unique opportunity to support families in Arkansas. Understanding the goal of the foster care system can serve as a foundation for your role. The ultimate objective is reunification; foster parents become a vital resource for children who have experienced trauma while their families work toward stability. 

While there is healing that can happen inside the home of a foster parent, the intention is not to erase biological parents from the child’s life or story. When a child is removed from their home, a caseworker outlines a safety plan, and the biological parent works toward meeting the necessary requirements for reunification. During this time, children are required to have visits with their parents to maintain their bond. These visits, often held in government buildings, are emotionally difficult for everyone involved. Parents, doing their best to preserve a connection with their child under heartbreaking circumstances, face immense challenges. As a foster parent, you have the chance to support and cheer on these biological parents as they navigate adversity and work toward reunification. 

This role offers the rare privilege of contributing to relationship-building during a child’s time out of the home, which can ease the transition when reunification occurs. 

“The joy of seeing a child we’ve loved successfully reunite with his mom is one of the highlights of my life.”

– Maia Anderson, Foster Parent

Why Reunification Matters Now More Than Ever

At the heart of foster care is empathy, the ability to see the humanity in both the child and their biological family. Every family’s story is shaped by unique struggles and offering support rather than judgment can make a profound difference. Foster parents have the privilege of being a steady, compassionate presence for children while also extending grace and encouragement to their parents. It’s a recognition that people are capable of growth and that families deserve the chance to heal and rebuild. By fostering with empathy and understanding, you become part of a system that values second chances and believes in the resilience of both children and their parents. 

One foster parent puts it this way: “Reunification as a foster parent means hoping alongside the child you care for and love that they will get to live with their parents again even when it hurts.” 

“As a foster parent, I got to be the way home for a number of kids. Staying in their lives after leaving has been meaningful and seeing their parents find success encouraged me to continue through hard transitions.”

– Maia Anderson, Foster Parent

Here are three common misconceptions foster families may have about reunification:

1. Reunification always happens quickly.
   
   Reality: Reunification can be a long, complex process, taking months or years depending on the situation. There are timeframes for permanency decisions, but the actual reunification process involves court hearings, case reviews, and evidence of consistent parental progress.
2. Families continue receiving the same level of support and services after reunification.
   
   Reality: A common misconception about family reunification is that parents continue receiving the same level of support and services once their children return home. Many families experience a sharp drop in resources and oversight after reunification. Without consistent, accessible support, parents are often left to navigate ongoing challenges alone; making it difficult to maintain stability and support their children’s healing. For reunification to be truly successful, families need continued care and resources that help them not just reunite but thrive.
3. A child’s trauma is fully addressed before reunification occurs.
   
   Reality: The trauma children experience from separation and foster care involvement is rarely fully addressed before they return home. While services like therapy and supervised visits may begin during foster care, wounds caused by separation and system involvement often remain long after a child returns home. Healing from this trauma is a long-term process that continues well beyond reunification. Both children and parents typically need ongoing emotional support and services to rebuild trust, process their experiences, and adjust to life together again. Consider how even when a child willingly leaves for college, there’s still a transition period filled with feelings of distance and separation.

Let’s work together to address the misconceptions.

As noted by the Administration for Children and Families, reunification should be seen not just as returning children and youth home, but as an opportunity to engage them in planning for long-term safety, stability, and emotional health. A key part of this process involves rebuilding trust and relationships, as well as fostering connections that support community building. Read more here. 

It’s essential to educate ourselves about the realities of foster care and family reunification because misconceptions can shape harmful attitudes and practices. False beliefs about families, children, and the reunification process can unintentionally create barriers to healing and long-term stability. By seeking accurate information and challenging assumptions, we can better support children, families, and the professionals working to keep them safely together. 

Conclusion

Reunification is a deeply emotional and complex process. Saying goodbye to a child you’ve loved and cared for can feel overwhelming. Whether a child is returning home, being adopted, or moving to another placement, these goodbyes are hard; for the departing child, the foster family, siblings in the home, and sometimes even the biological parents, who may experience a mix of guilt, relief, and grief. 

But no child or family should have to face these transitions alone. This is where compassionate, committed people like YOU can make an incredible difference. By stepping into the role of a foster parent or support volunteer, you have the opportunity to help children heal, to encourage families as they rebuild, and to be a part of a community that believes in second chances and brighter futures. 

The need is great, and so is the reward. If you’ve ever felt a tug on your heart to get involved, now is the time.  

Explore our Network Partners and the resources available to help families navigate these difficult moments and consider how you can be part of the support network that walks alongside children and families through their hardest days.

Join us in making a difference!