Family Reunification and Pathways to Permanency

an infant and adult holding hands

Family reunification is the process of returning a child to their parent(s), guardian(s), or Indian custodian(s) after being removed due to abuse and neglect and placed into foster care. Part of CDSS’ mission in serving families is the priority to support children, youth and families who are involved with county Child Welfare Services agencies and/or county Juvenile Probation Departments and experiencing traumatic events by providing services to heal and reunify the family unit. Caseworkers are required to work collaboratively with the child and family team members (i.e., birth parents, caregivers, youth, therapist, etc.) to develop a case plan. Reasonable efforts or in the case of an Indian child, active efforts, must be made to reunify the family by providing services to the child and family, to amend the problem that led to the removal, making it possible for the child to safely return home. The law also requires that while working toward reunification, a concurrent plan must be developed for the child to achieve permanency through adoption, Tribal Customary Adoption, legal guardianship, or with a fit and willing relative if reunification is unsuccessful. This webpage is intended to provide policy information, and resources regarding family engagement, placement requirements, placement stability and permanency, case plan requirements, visitation, caseworker visits and preparations to return the child home.