Family Preservation and Reunification Programs

Abstract

Families come to the attention of child protective services due to a variety of problems threatening child safety, ranging from distinct and resolvable crises to chronic family dysfunction. The three primary aims of the child welfare system (CWS) are to ensure child safety, well‐being, and permanency. To achieve these aims, CWS agencies employ a spectrum of interventions that fall into two general categories: family preservation and reunification. At the simplest level, family preservation services seek to prevent child removal, while reunification programs seek to return children to their families of origin. This entry discusses the policy context and definitions of each approach and reviews the literature on best practices.