bringing community together to support families and their reunification family reunification...

B R I N G I N G C O M M U N I T Y T O G E T H E R T O S U P P O R T F A M I L I E S A N D T H E I R R E U N I F I C AT I O N

FAMILY REUNIFICATION TELECONFERENCE

Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

FAMILY REUNIFICATION DEFINED


Reunification is the process of returning a child who has been in out-of-home care to the care of his/her parents.

REUNIFICATION PROCESS


Goal of Reunification

The initial permanency goal for children in out-of-home placement is reintegration unless the court has ruled that no reasonable efforts to reunify are required.

Case planning is directed toward addressing those concerns which led to the child being removed from his or her home.

The Child Welfare Case Management Provider provides services to ensure the parents can resume responsibility for the child in the home in the shortest time possible.

STATUTE ON REUNIFICATION


Per the Kansas Code for Care of Children

A child in the custody of the Secretary who has been adjudicated a Child in Need of Care cannot be returned to the home from which they were removed without providing written notice to the court at least 14 calendar days prior to the planned date of return.

After reviewing the information provided to justify the child's return to a parent, if the court sets a hearing on the matter, the child may not be returned to the parent's home without written consent of the court.

REUNIFICATION STATISTICS

• Nearly 60 percent of children leaving foster care are reunified with their family.

• More than 70 percent of children reunited with their family are returned home within 12 months of entering foster care.

• More than 90 percent of children reunified with their families do not return to foster care within 12 months.

• Children who are reunited with their family spend an average of eight months in care.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

St. Francis - West and Wichita RegionsKVC - East and Kansas City Regions

REUNIFICATION SERVICES

• Each family receives initial and ongoing assessments.

• Children are placed with relatives whenever possible. Kinship families make a difference in the life of a child today and in the life of a family system forever.

• Each family works with a team of service providers that include a network of community supports and services.

REUNIFICATION SERVICES

• Case management• In-home family therapy• Child behavior

management training• Advocacy and support

with the court system and schools

• Transportation• 12 Month after-care

services

• Resource and Referrals to connect to community supports such as:− Health care− Mental health− Medication

management− Substance abuse− Parent education− Schools− Churches

RESOURCES


www.kvc.org

www.st-francis.org(also on twitter, facebook and linkedin)

CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE OF KANSAS

The mission of the Children’s Alliance is to support member agencies in their efforts to strengthen children and families

For our members, we provide these key services:• Effective advocacy• Conduct comprehensive training• Deliver operational support• Produce relevant research• Provide consultation services

MAPP PROGRAM

• Trauma-informed MAPP (TIPS-MAPP)30-hour, 10-week group process to prepare and inform prospective foster/adoptive parents

• PS-Deciding Together7-week companion program to TIPS-MAPP that is available to families who are unable to attend group meetings

• Caring for Our Own27-hour, 9-week group process designed to help relative/kinship providers understand their role in supporting the children placed in their home and the role of the birth families

CONTACT INFORMATION


Bruce Linhos, Executive DirectorDenise Gibson, Director of National Programs (MAPP)Amy Hagen, Director of Training

785-235-5437 https://childally.org

KANSAS FAMILY ADVISORY NETWORK, INC. (KFAN)


KFAN is a non-adversarial, non-profit network of family partners, organizations, groups and agencies who have joined together in collaboration to promote and advance safety, permanency, and well-being for children and their families involved with, or at risk of becoming involved with the child welfare system by using education for children, families, policy makers and society at large.

http://s514060954.initial-website.com/[email protected]

[email protected]

DCF RESOURCES

The following resources are available at www.dcf.ks.gov:• DCF Family Handbook• www.youshare.org• Ideas to Support Birth Parents tip sheet• Parent Ally program• Family Reunification

Month printables− Posters and half letters

focusing on families in crisis and how to support families in crisis

bringing community together to support families and their reunification family reunification...

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