Bringing Families Back Together is the Goal

Reunification with family is a successful outcome for children removed from their homes and placed in foster care. More than 31,500 children lived in Pennsylvania's foster care system in 2009 and nearly half of these children and youth are reunited with their birth families within one year of entering foster care.

Reunification takes work, commitment, and investment of time and resources by parents, family members, social workers, and attorneys, but it can be done. Services such as strong case planning, assessment and family engagement can help bring families back together – and keep them together.

This year, a number of organizations – including Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Children, Youth and Families (DHS) – are working together to organize the first National Reunification Day on June 19. The goal of National Reunification Day is to raise awareness about the importance of family reunification to children in foster care.

We should celebrate the accomplishments of families who have overcome an array of challenges to reunify safely and successfully and inspire other parents – particularly those going through the reunification process – that it is possible to confront and resolve the issues that led to their separation, and to reunify with their children.

Read more about National Reunification Day: http://new.abanet.org/child/Pages/nationalreunificationday.aspx

Joan L. Benso is president and CEO, PA Partnerships for Children