Children go into foster care for many different reasons. The process of removing children from their birth families is always a last resort and is only considered during instances of neglect, abuse, harm or where it’s not safe for them to live at home. However, the end goal of foster care is reunification – where it’s safe and feasible to do so.
What is reunification in foster care?
Reunification is the process of returning children or young people to their birth family. It happens when the Department of Child Safety (the Department) are satisfied that it’s safe for them to do so. The Department works with the children, their siblings (if any), the parents of the child, other immediate and extended family members and the foster carers, during this process.
Several factors need to be determined when considering when it’s an appropriate time for reunification. These factors include:
- The child’s best interests
- The safety and wellbeing of the child
- The wellbeing of the parents
- The parent’s willingness and ability to provide care for their children.
Why is reunification important?
Reunification is important for the development of children and young people in foster care. Reunification outcomes are dependent on the circumstances of the children’s birth families and the reasons that led to them being placed in out of home care in the first place.
While there’s been limited quantitative research into the benefits and outcomes for children of reunification in Australia, there’s significant qualitative evidence to support it. Reunification can help rebuild and strengthen bonds between children, their immediate and extended family.
Reunification can decrease the level of emotional stress that a child in foster care may experience, because of being away from their birth families.
A child or young person is only reunified with their family after the Department completes a thorough assessment and determines the best interests of the child at the centre of decision-making processes. If the Department of Child Safety deems that it’s unsafe for the child to return home, they may pause, review or extend reunification planning.
Factors for successful reunification in foster care
As per the Queensland Government Child Safety Practice Manual, there are four factors which underpin successful reunification outcomes for foster children and their families. They are:
- The relationship of the family and their assigned caseworker;
- The contact between the child and the parent (while the child is in care);
- The involvement that the foster carer has in mentoring the parent; and
- The support networks that the parent has access to in assisting them to continue raising the child.
How to say goodbye – for foster carers
For foster carers, saying goodbye to the children in your care is a bittersweet moment in the reunification process. While the return to their families is a positive thing for them, as carers, you cannot disregard the close attachments and bonds that you will often make with the young people in your care.
Although saying goodbye can be challenging, it’s important to remember the reasons that led to you becoming a carer. Here are some tips and tricks to making the process of saying goodbye easier:
Discuss and stay positive
Take some time to talk to your care team about what role you play in the reunification process. If you’ve spent a fair amount of time with the young person, you may have lots of valuable information about them based on your experience of caring for them that can help all relevant parties through the re-transition period as they return to their families. It’s important to remain positive and speak highly of the experiences that you’ve all shared together.
Enjoy the time you have left with the child, and take time for yourself
Celebrate the good times that you’ve had with your foster child by participating in an activity that you all enjoy.
Also, remember that it’s okay to take some time between this and your next placement. If you need some time to get yourself in the right frame of mind, we understand that. It’s important to be your best self for the next young person that you care for.
Seek support
Parting ways with a foster child is an emotionally challenging time for some, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to go through it alone. Remember to seek support and guidance from your loved ones and your foster care practitioner or agency.
Find out more about foster care and the reunification process
If you’d like to learn more about foster care, the role of a foster carer, or the process of becoming a foster parent, make sure to contact us. Our team will take time to discuss the process and can answer all your burning questions.