Successful Reunification Research Articles

Linguistic means of advertising text

          Advertising will use a rich range of expression techniques at all levels of language. Not so rarely, tropes are used in advertising. Types of the most common types of tropes: allegory, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, comparison, epithet. The phraseological expressions are no less expressive. Journalists often use phraseology as not only in the language but also in the changed form. By updating the structure of the phraseological expressions, semantics, they create a new content. Different stylistic figures are also used in advertising. The most common speech figures are: anaphora, antithesis, gradation, inversion, parallelism, rhetorical question, ellipse and epiphora. Language expressions revitalize and promptly expresses the text. In linguistic literature it is highlighted that advertisements mostly contain simple sentences. Simple sentences are a universal rule, as it is related to briefly, clearly, clearly, dynamic, expressiveness, as it is related to advertising text because it should be quickly and effectively read by the reader / listener. It is also related to the influence of spoken language. The use of effective exclamatory sentences, which plays a role of a signal in the text, calls for action. The exclamatory modal constructions are also good, which express offers, invitations, convincing.  Effectiveness of the advertising text depends on all its components: successful reunification of image, sound, type and verbal content. In addition, researchers note the verbal importance of the verbal component of the advertisement - the verbal text. For an in-depth analysis of the issue, we will look at the structure of advertising texts in detail: There are two categories of advertising text: selected and basic. The selected text contains all the elements that the audience notices immediately after viewing the ad. These elements are grouped in a large font to attract attention and capture the reader in a quick manner. The main text of the advertisement contains the elements that the reader can read and understand. The basic text of the advertisement consists of five main elements that are almost always used in advertising: 1. title; 2. subheading; 3. Basic Text; 4. Signatures and comments; 5. advertising slogan.

Prevalence and Predictors of Prescription of Family-Focused Treatment in Child Welfare

Engaging families in the behavioral health assessment process for child welfare-involved youth is a best practice standard in obtaining vital information about the context affecting their safety, permanency, and wellbeing. As family functioning plays a role in successful reunification for youth out-of-home care (OOHC), family engagement may also increase the likelihood of buy-in, clinical treatment participation and outcomes. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between standardized assessment domains of child and family needs and the prescription of family-focused treatment. Results suggest that there were overall low rates of prescription of family-focused treatment. There were significant differences in the prescription of family-focused treatment based on youth identified trauma, behavioral, emotional and family needs. Despite the impact of family functioning on placement, the low rate of prescribed family-focused treatment may reflect barriers such as communication and collaboration between providers, distance between family and placement, or a siloed approach to treating children in OOHC separate from their families. Approaches to address these barriers are discussed.

Reunification trajectories in Quebec: Acknowledging chronic family challenges to support stability

BackgroundWhile family reunification following out-of-home placement is a goal of child protection policy, complex family needs may not be met at the point that child protection systems reunify families. Permanency legislation creating maximum placement timeframes prompts questions regarding what families need to be supported in stably reunifying following a child's removal from the home. ObjectiveWe aim to identify clinical risk factors salient for initial placements and placements following a child reunifying with their family to inform successful reunification and improve children's stability. Participants and settingThe study includes a representative sample of children in Quebec with a child protection investigation in 2008 (N = 3051) followed for nine years. MethodsCross-sectional clinical data from the Quebec Incidence Study (QIS) on Evaluated Child Protection Reports (2008) were linked with longitudinal administrative data from 16 provincial child protection agencies. Canadian Census data (2006) were used to create a factorial index measure for poverty. Chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) decision tree analysis was used to compare risk factors salient for initial placements (n = 1120) with post-reunification placements (n = 455). ResultsFor the placement sample (n = 1120), significant factors were: attachment issues, caregiver drug use, child's suicidal thoughts, child's self-harming behavior, and academic difficulties. Of the children who reunified with their families (n = 847), over half (n = 455; 54%) returned to out-of-home placements. Certain factors remained significant for placement after reunification: academic difficulties, attachment issues, and caregiver drug use. The CHAID model fit estimates suggest 70.9% (SE = 0.008) accuracy predicting out-of-home placement following child protection investigation and 58.2% (SE = 0.017) accuracy predicting re-placement following family reunification. ConclusionsComplex needs among families most likely to experience reunification breakdown indicate potential service gaps. When legislated placement timeframes prompt quick resolution of family challenges, these analyses can contribute to policy discussions regarding clinical family challenges that impact stability.

The role of social services in reunified custodial grandfamilies

Social services, including the child welfare system, are often heavily involved in situations where children are returned to the care of their parents, after being raised by their grandparents. While previous research has highlighted custodial grandparents’ service needs and the challenges they experience when accessing services and working with social service professionals, few studies have examined social services in the context of reunifying grandfamilies. Informed by bioecological theory, the aim of this qualitative study was to examine custodial grandmothers’ perceptions of the role of social services in the process of their grandchildren being reunified with a biological parent. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 16 custodial grandmothers whose grandchildren had experienced reunification. Findings from a grounded theory analysis revealed grandmothers’ perceptions that having a strong connection with a responsive caseworker facilitated successful reunification, as did ongoing efforts to address the parental issues that resulted in the grandmother assuming a custodial role. Unfortunately, grandmothers also perceived barriers to successful reunification. These included having their perspectives dismissed by caseworkers and judges as well as the child welfare system prioritizing reunification, often to the perceived detriment of their grandchildren. Implications for policy and practice with reunifying grandfamilies are addressed.

Rapid review of clinical reunification intervention to families

Purpose of the study: The aim of this paper is to examine literature on the clinical content of reunification interventions social workers render to families. Methodology: A rapid review of the literature was carried out. Electronic databases, such as eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, SocINDEX with Full Text, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL with Full Text, and JSTOR Journals, were explored by making use of specific keywords. A quality appraisal was done using the CASP (2018), the AACODS checklist, and the EPHPP (2009) to appraise the quantitative studies. Eleven articles were synthesised using thematic analysis. Main Findings: The review indicates that the exact nature of the clinical content of reunification intervention rendered to families is not clear, although empirical evidence suggests that the clinical content of reunification intervention rendered to families comprises of engagement, parental visiting and contact, parenting capacity building, and support groups. In addition, supporting birth parents with concrete resources like transportation and stable housing can be identified as an extra intervention that may support successful reunification. Applications of this study: This study has the potential to contribute to the child welfare system by enhancing the need for programmes and policies that focus on addressing the clinical characteristics of family reunification interventions. Recommendations were made that can provide guidance and insight on the important aspects that should form part of reunification services to meet the emotional and psychological needs of the children and their birth families. Novelty/Originality of this study: The outcome of the study has provided insight into components that are regarded to be of importance and should form part of the clinical content of reunification services rendered to families.

Addressing Intergenerational Trauma in an Adolescent Reunification Program: Case Studies Illustrating Service Innovation.

Adolescents in out-of-home care generally have poor prospects for reunification with their birth families. However, for some adolescents in care, with deliberate support and intervention, there may opportunities for successful reunification. The Adolescent Reunification Program (ARP) is an Australian program designed to assist young people aged 12-17years return home to their families. The program focuses on supporting families, mentoring young people so as to meet their developmental and educational needs, and providing a safe home environment. It also included an innovative therapeutic component which focused on addressing the consequences of intergenerational trauma in order to help repair relationships between parents and children. The purpose of this paper is to describe the therapeutic component of the program and to examine the potential value of therapy in a family reunification context with a particular focus on client receptivity and preliminary evidence on outcomes. Using case illustrations, this paper describes the therapeutic component of the ARP and provides a preliminary evaluation of these components using a mixed methods approach, including standardised psychological assessments, qualitative interviews with parents and young people, and reflections from the program workers. The therapeutic component of the ARP may have helped to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma by bringing focus to the interrelationships between how people feel and how they act. This was done through the work of therapists attempting to combine non-judgmental exploration and positive therapeutic framing with practical support within the context of the environment where the family reunification occurred. Therapy in conjunction with practical supports within a multidisciplinary collaborative approach may help to facilitate better outcomes for reunification when working with complex families.

Predicting substance use treatment completion & reunification among family treatment court-involved parent–child dyads

ABSTRACT Through intensive, treatment-focused interdisciplinary practice, family treatment courts (FTC) offer a speedier pathway to reunification for families with substance use disorder in the foster care system compared to traditional settings. Less is known regarding differences in outcomes among FTC participants on the basis of clinical risk and need characteristics. We analyzed parent–child dyads in a rural Midwestern FTC program to understand the effect of these key variables on successful treatment completion and family reunification. Results revealed that treatment completion was more likely for parents who reported greater frequency of methamphetamine use in the 30 days prior to treatment entry and less likely for parents who reported more trauma symptoms. Longer time to treatment start from child removal date was associated with a very small increased likelihood of treatment completion as well. Reunification was significantly more likely for parents employed at treatment entry and those who spent more days in treatment. Reunification was less likely for parents who reported more social support and more trauma symptoms at treatment entry. Taken together, these findings suggest that FTC are effective for parents with methamphetamine use disorder, but may see improved outcomes when providing increased supports for parents with severe trauma symptoms.

Description and evaluation of a trial program aimed at reunifying adolescents in statutory long-term out-of-home care with their birth families: The adolescent reunification program

• The ARP appears to be a rare reunification program with few parallels in the world. • The ARP is a strengths-focused program tailored to the specific needs of families. • The trial program evaluation showed promising results for successful reunification. • Adolescent reunification programs may reduce numbers of children in long-term care. A significant international child protection issue is the gradual increase in the number of children in statutory out-of-home care (OOHC). This has led to strong policy interest in family reunification or family restoration; however, dedicated reunification programs that aim to reunify children who have been in care longer-term appear to be rare. In this paper, we describe the development, piloting and evaluation of a dedicated, intensive program for adolescents in long-term OOHC and their families of origin – the Adolescent Reunification Program (ARP). The ARP evaluation involved a mixed methods approach through the compilation of both quantitative data (the number and characteristics of families referred, and their outcomes) and qualitative interviews with participating families and ARP workers. Of the 36 participating families, two-thirds (66%) achieved successful reunification, with young people remaining at home for at least six months. Thematic content analysis of interview data provided insight into the factors that facilitated, or acted as barriers to, reunification. Overall, the evaluation indicated that strengths-focused, adolescent reunification programs have considerable potential to reduce the number of young people who remain in long-term care. Inspection of both national and international evidence suggests that by providing a dedicated, intensive reunification service for adolescents on long-term orders, the ARP is a very rare program that has few parallels anywhere in the world.

Reunification in Custodial Grandfamilies: An Examination of Resilient Family Processes

This study examined how custodial grandmothers navigated the process of their grandchildren being reunified with a biological parent. Prior research has focused on factors associated with unsuccessful reunification instead of resilient family processes that may support successful reunification. How custodial grandfamilies navigate reunification has not been examined, despite their unique relational configuration and grandparents' frequent involvement in raising their grandchildren. Guided by Walsh's model of family resilience, semistructured, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 17 grandmothers whose custodial grandchildren had been reunified with a biological parent. Data analysis was guided by grounded theory methodology. Grandmothers believed in parents fulfilling their obligations, prioritizing grandchildren's needs, and coping via their faith. Grandmothers supported reunified parents and children by providing emotional support and instrumental assistance, while maintaining clear role boundaries. Accessing resources and engaging in open family communication were helpful to the reunification, although there were still challenges in navigating family relationships. Within custodial grandfamilies, not all reunifications were a positive outcome for the grandchildren. Grandmothers remained heavily involved in supporting and monitoring the reunifications, with the quality of the grandmother-parent relationship being paramount. Practitioners should address family dynamics when working with custodial grandfamilies before, during, and after a reunification.

Imagined Germany and the Battle of Models in South Korea

This article explores interpretive practices and discursive arguments that mediate transnational influences. In South Korea, a growth-oriented economy, competitive democracy, and an antagonistic relationship with North Korea developed during the Cold War era under the strong influence of the U.S. and Japan. This study analyzes how Germany—a country that is regarded as an exemplary case for a social market economy, consensus democracy, and successful national reunification—was imagined as a model for reform. By analyzing editorials and opinion articles published in major Korean newspapers, this article investigates the aspects of Germany that Korean elites paid attention to and the narratives that they constructed about Germany. The results show that competing Korean elites produced different German narratives and “German models,” leading to the integration of these competing models into conflicts surrounding South Korea’s future.

Reunifying Successfully: A Systematic Review of Interventions to Reduce Child Welfare Recidivism

As many as one third of children who reunify from child welfare systems reenter care because of continued child maltreatment. This can have long-term deleterious effects on mental health. Yet, few studies have examined interventions that have been effective in promoting successful reunification or reunification that does not result in recidivism. This study presents findings from a systematic review of interventions that target successful reunification. We searched five academic databases, governmental and educational websites to identify prior literature. Three researchers extracted data from N = 216 studies retrieved and screened in 10 that met all inclusion criteria. However, small sample sizes, lack of replication of studies, and small effect sizes limit the generalizability of findings. As such, the findings from this review highlight a need for more rigorous studies to build the evidence base of post-permanence interventions for families that reunify.

The road to reunification: Family- and state system-factors associated with successful reunification for children ages zero-to-five

BackgroundResearch suggests that up to one-third of children who reunify re-enter care because of continued maltreatment. For young children, this is particularly detrimental due to rapid brain development during the first years of life. ObjectiveThis study examined family- and state child welfare system predictors of successful reunification, or reunification with no reentries into foster care. MethodsA sample of N=53,789 from the 2012 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System of children ages zero-to-five who reunified was utilized. Children were tracked over the following three years and a multilevel model was run to compare family- and state system-factors among those that successfully and unsuccessfully reunified. ResultsOnly 4.6 % of the variance in successful reunification was at the state child welfare system level. After adjusting for family-factors, state average time-to-reunify (OR=1.04, p<.05) and violent crime rates (OR=1.00, p<.01) were associated with successful reunification. A random effect for race and ethnicity and parental drug use suggests that the relationship between race and ethnicity and successful reunification, and parental drug use and successful reunification, varies significantly by state child welfare system. ConclusionsGiven these findings, practitioners and child welfare agencies should prioritize family-centered interventions. Future research could identify which state child welfare systems have successfully improved outcomes for families of color and families with histories of drug abuse.

Legal professional perspectives on barriers and supports for school-aged students and families during reunification from foster care

BackgroudSupports following reunification play an important role in successful transitions from out-of-home care to home and school settings for children and their families. There are several stakeholders who play critical roles supporting families during this transition. One key role is tied to legal professionals, who often work closely with the child or family while in care and then continue to monitor family progress during the transition from foster care to the home setting. Although work has been conducted to understand what supports other stakeholders feel children and families need during this transition, little is known about the perspectives of legal professionals. ObjectiveThis exploratory study gathered perspectives from legal professionals regarding the challenges these youths and families face and necessary supports to promote successful reunification. Three research questions guided this work: (1) How prepared do legal professionals feel youth and families are for the reunification period? (2) What do legal professionals perceive as existing barriers for youth and families during reunification? and (3) What services do legal professional perceive as necessary to promote successful reunification and the effectiveness of existing supports? MethodsParticipants (N = 13) completed a brief survey including demographic items and questions on reunification supports following departure from foster care. Participants also engaged in a focus group using the nominal group technique to address two primary questions that addressed challenges faced by families during reunification and necessary supports or services to promote positive youth and family outcomes. ResultsParticipants felt that families were not well prepared for reunification and that current supports were somewhat effective to support this transition period. They also indicated supports in the mental health domain to be most important. A total of 36 independent barriers were generated for the first question and 27 supports were identified for question two. ConclusionEstablishing effective and accessible supports for families during reunification is necessary for positive family outcomes. This study highlighted barriers in preventing successful reunification, namely limited access to resources and supports in preventing successful reunification and the importance of mental health support for the entire family in promoting successful outcomes.

Reunification of looked‐after children with their birth parents in the United Kingdom: A literature review and thematic synthesis

AbstractBackgroundReunification of looked‐after children with their birth parents is the most common route to permanency for looked‐after children in the United Kingdom. Previous research evidence, mainly from American studies, suggests numerous factors that contribute to successful reunification outcomes (Biehal, 2007). Less is known about the current evidence base for reunification practice in the United Kingdom.ObjectiveThis review aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize published literature concerned with the reunification of looked‐after children with their birth parents in the United Kingdom.MethodsA systematic search of the literature identified eight peer‐reviewed studies conducted between 2005 and 2017 exploring reunification practice in the United Kingdom. Studies were critically appraised and thematically synthesized according to the Thomas and Harden (2008) approach.ResultsEight articles met eligibility criteria. Descriptive themes were support, case management, oscillation, parenting, and reoccurrence of abuse. Analytic themes were lack of guidance and risks associated with return.ConclusionsA pattern of oscillation between home and care was common for many looked‐after children, and remaining in care produced relatively better outcomes. Difficulties arise when comparing studies on reunification, due to methodological variation. Further research is needed to explore the views of reunited children themselves.

Positive parenting support during family reunification

ABSTRACTThis article presents the results of a qualitative study that explores parenting skills when a child returns home after a period of foster care in the child protection system. There were a total of 135 participants, including 63 child protection professionals, 42 parents and 30 children and adolescents. The data were analysed using content analysis submitted to peer review. Triangulating the voices of children with the input of parents and professionals rendered it possible to identify needs for the consolidation of family reunification in five dimensions: adjustment of parenting skills, adaptation to the needs of the child, social support, more accurate perception of one’s role, and parental self-efficacy. These findings suggest particular characteristics in the development of both generally applicable skills and skills specific to positive parenting that can improve the chances of a successful reunification process.

Caseworkers' insights and experiences with successful reunification

The decision to reunify children with their birth parents is one of the most significant decisions that caseworkers have to make in the child welfare arena. These decisions can dramatically affect the lives of children and families. Therefore, it is essential to understand reunification from the caseworkers' perspectives. The current study presents findings from a survey of child welfare caseworkers' experiences with reunifications and focuses on practices and key factors at the casework practice and at the system-environment level to assist in achieving successful reunification. The survey includes a series of statements related to successful reunification and open-ended questions. A sample of 284 caseworkers completed an online survey about their experience with reunification. Descriptive and thematic analyses were performed to analyze the caseworkers' responses. Almost all the caseworkers believed that the most important factors to ensure successful reunification is child safety, as well providing services and support to the birth family. Thematic analysis reveals several practices and key factors to assist in achieving successful reunification, including: the child's and the parents' willingness and readiness to reunify, successfully addressing the initial issues that led to separation, the child and the parents participation in the process, a quality relationship between the caseworker and the birth family, and the importance of providing services and support. However, caseworkers highlight some barriers regarding their work with substance abuse and mental health families, caseload size and the agency's requirement for lengthy documentation and paperwork. The study suggests supporting the need for caseworkers to find strategies to engage in a collaborative effort with the birth parents to work toward reunification, as well providing and allocating more resources, services, and funding to the child welfare system will help to promote reunification.

The Transition from Institutional Care to Adulthood and Independence: A Social Services Professional and Institutional Caregiver Perspective in Harare, Zimbabwe

ABSTRACTMuch research has explored transitions into adulthood for children living in out-of-home care. However, most of these studies are concentrated in Western countries, leaving a gap of information from the Global South. This paper discusses findings from a small-scale qualitative study conducted in Harare, Zimbabwe. Semi-structured interviews with (n = 18) institutional caregivers and social workers, complemented with site observations at selected institutions for children, were conducted. Data were analyzed using thematic coding. Findings show that young people aging out from Harare’s care institutions face challenges making their transition from care into adulthood. Their age at the time of exit is turning care leavers into instant adults and, without much support, their outcomes are poor. Community attitude towards previously institutionalized young people also affects the transition because of the stigma attached. The study concludes that a lack of information about care leaver outcomes impacts on service delivery for this group. Additionally, the lack of financial and human resources hinders the support that could be provided to care leavers, in the form of transitional housing or family support after successful reunification.

The role of transnational education in public administration and public affairs to support ‘good governance’ in the Turkish republic of North Cyprus

This article addresses the role and opportunities for public administration and public affairs education in North Cyprus. The context of the research is situated within a transnational education partnership between the University of the West of Scotland and the Management Centre of the Mediterranean (Nicosia, North Cyprus). The dominant narrative of the article is, based on the case of North Cyprus, to provide key insights into why public administration and public affairs education is a force for development in governance and civil society terms. The political context of North Cyprus is such that it is in the midst of significant change based on the twin governance challenges of, first, uncertainty regarding its international status (following the Cypriot coup d’etat and Turkish intervention in 1974 that led to North declaring independence in 1983 and becoming the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus) and, second, efforts to accommodate ‘acquis communautaire’ in order to progress towards EU accession (subject to successful reunification with the South). An underpinning reflective consideration in the article relates to how such educational programmes, based on a franchised model, address aspects of ‘good governance’ (often based on a Western paradigm) but, at the same time, are also suitably responsive to local civil society and political contexts.

An innovative child welfare pilot initiative: Results and outcomes

Successful family reunification is achieved only about 50% of the time when children are in foster care. Parents' ability to access and complete court ordered services are paramount in determining whether the family can achieve reunification. However, the research on how to best facilitate service access and utilization are sparse. A matched sample of 100 families with no prior child welfare involvement and at least one child in out of home care were selected from Department of Children and Family closed administrative case files. This study compared 48 families who received traditional child welfare services to 48 families who received a Family First model intervention (PFFP) from a large urban public child welfare agency. The independent variables were the elements that distinguished the Family First model from traditional child welfare services and included the number of caseworkers for the life of the case, caseload size, and service needs met through community partnerships. The dependent variables were the stability of the children's out of home placement, the time to reunification, the length of agency involvement, the stability of reunification at one year follow up, subsequent substantiated child maltreatment reports one year after the cases were closed, the distance a placement location was from the home of the family at intake, the match between identified needs and the timely access of services. Hierarchal regression and survival models were constructed to examine elements of the intervention for their impact on family outcomes. The results suggested that a community partnership model that incorporated family engagement, enhanced service provider accessibility, reduced caseloads, one caseworker for each family, are associated with successful reunification outcomes. Moreover, the intervention families were more likely to have their needs met with clinical or economic services, experienced fewer days in out-of-home placement, shorter involvement with the agency, reduced placement moves and were more likely to be reunified sooner compared to the group who received standard child welfare services. At one year follow up, the intervention families also had fewer substantiated child maltreatment reports and children were more likely to be living in the parental home. Implications for policy, research and practice are presented.

Foster parent training programmes for foster youth: a content review

AbstractFoster parent training is a well‐recognized component of providing quality care in child welfare. Well‐trained foster parents can improve placement stability, reduce behavioural problems and encourage successful reunification or adoption. A review of the foster parent training programmes can provide a better understanding of the current state of foster parenting training and inform future practice and policy‐making. This review examined published and unpublished research on foster parent training conducted from 1970 to 2014 and provided an overview of the structure and content of 22 foster parent training programmes. Common patterns in the content and structure of foster parent training programmes are identified and discussed, highlighting trends towards multi‐session in‐service training with eclectic content. The development of new training programmes with strong theoretical grounding that train foster parents on specific behavioural skills is recommended.