Reunification for children in out-of-home care part 3: reunification decision-making February 2018 It has been argued that reunification making is a largely invisible area of practice. In addition, very limited research has examined the effectiveness of current reunification is very little research available to inform caseworkers decision-making tools and processes. in making difficult and important Consequently there is little evidence to guide decisions about whether or not it caseworkers in making these important and is safe for children to be returned difficult decisions. This paper describes selected to their birth parents. research which has documented factors which predict reunification breakdowns and considers No Australian research has ways in which reunification decision-making can examined whether current be improved. reunification decision-making tools and processes prevent Why is reunification decision-making future maltreatment and re-entry into care. important? 1,667 Queensland children and young people left The lack of information and care in 2016-17, many of whom would have been research has potentially reunified with their birth families. Making the decision to consequences for return children to their families comes with considerable children’s wellbeing, stability and risk, in particular that the child will experience further abuse safety. and neglect.1 There is growing evidence that failed Important factors that predict reunifications have a strong negative impact on the stability reunification breakdowns and and wellbeing outcomes of reunified children. Research to out-of-home care evidence is essential to guide reunification decision-making include: practices, to support better long term outcomes for children18 and to reduce the likelihood of future harm. ongoing parental substance abuse What factors influence caseworker prior referrals to child reunification decision-making? protective services A study of Australian caseworkers looked at factors that previous failed returns were used to make decisions about returning children from home6 out-of-home care. Decisions to reunify a child were more lack of social support likely to be made when caseworkers believed that parents available to birth demonstrated: parents.6 an adequate capacity to parent (for example, being aware of their children’s needs, and an ability to consider their child’s perspective) co-operation (for example, cooperating with the department, engaging with services, asking for help).
Reunification for children in out-of-home care part 3: reunification decision-making February 2018 is very little research available to inform caseworkers in making difficult and important decisions about whether or not it is safe for children to be returned to their birth parents. No Australian research has examined whether current reunification decision-making tools and processes prevent future maltreatment and re-entry into care. The lack of information and research has potentially consequences for children’s wellbeing, stability and safety. Important factors that predict reunification breakdowns and to out-of-home care include: ongoing parental substance abuse prior referrals to child protective services previous failed returns home6 lack of social support available to birth parents.6 It has been argued that reunification is a largely invisible area of practice. In addition, very limited research has examined the effectiveness of current reunification decision-making tools and processes. Consequently there is little evidence to guide caseworkers in making these important and difficult decisions. This paper describes selected research which has documented factors which predict reunification breakdowns and considers ways in which reunification decision-making can be improved. Why is reunification decision-making important? 1,667 Queensland children and young people left care in 2016-17, many of whom would have been reunified with their birth families. Making the decision to return children to their families comes with considerable risk, in particular that the child will experience further abuse and neglect.1 There is growing evidence that failed reunifications have a strong negative impact on the stability and wellbeing outcomes of reunified children. Research evidence is essential to guide reunification decision-making practices, to support better long term outcomes for children18 and to reduce the likelihood of future harm. What factors influence caseworker reunification decision-making? A study of Australian caseworkers looked at factors that were used to make decisions about returning children from out-of-home care. Decisions to reunify a child were more likely to be made when caseworkers believed that parents demonstrated: an adequate capacity to parent (for example, being aware of their children’s needs, and an ability to consider their child’s perspective) co-operation (for example, cooperating with the department, engaging with services, asking for help). making
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