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June is National Reunification Month. It’s a time to reflect on family strengths that lead to successful reunifications. In honor of this month, Atlantic Area CASA, Inc. celebrates families, volunteers and service providers who have and will work hard to reunite separated families. Our CASA volunteers work with experts to identify and recommend services aimed at keeping families together in order to give them another chance and creating a brighter future for each family member.
According to the Children’s Bureau with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the majority of children exiting foster care are reunited with their families. In fact, over the past few years, the percentage of reunifications that occurred in less than a year from the time of entry into foster care was between 65.5-67 percent. Reunified families that restore children and youth to their family of origin are an inspiration, because they have overcome difficulties and are equipped with tools to address future challenges. In guiding principle 2 of the 2020 National CASA/GAL Standards for Local Programs, it states: — it is in a child’s best interests to remain with their family of origin when safely possible; — the program acknowledges that children experience trauma when separated from their family of origin; and — if a child is removed from their family of origin, it is in the child’s best interests to be reunified with their family of origin as soon as safely possible.
We know most children do best when they can safely remain with their parents or with other family members. That’s why the Atlantic Area CASA, Inc. volunteers are committed to strengthening families in their ability to care for and protect their children. According to the National CASA/GAL Association for Children 2019 Annual Local Program Survey Report, 41 percent of the cases closed resulted in children returning to their parent(s) or primary caretakers, including 5,000 children reported as remaining with parents or caregivers throughout the case. There are a growing number of resources available to help support families in times of need, including home visiting programs, Family Resource Centers, the Community Action Network, and Family Success Centers that offer a variety of services to help strengthen families and prevent crises before they occur.
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