Abstract
Family reunification offers a potential route to permanency for looked after children - a key issue in contemporary social care.
This report offers policy-makers and practictioners a critical review of the research findings available in the UK and the USA, as well as a guide to the pitfalls in interpreting the research evidence. It assesses:
1. evidence on the key factors associated with the probability of reunification,
2. research on the impact of children's and parents' characteristics, reasons for placement, contact, motivation and the nature of social work services,
3. research on the outcomes of reunion, including studies which have reported on re-abuse, re-entry to care and psychosocial outcomes.
This report offers policy-makers and practictioners a critical review of the research findings available in the UK and the USA, as well as a guide to the pitfalls in interpreting the research evidence. It assesses:
1. evidence on the key factors associated with the probability of reunification,
2. research on the impact of children's and parents' characteristics, reasons for placement, contact, motivation and the nature of social work services,
3. research on the outcomes of reunion, including studies which have reported on re-abuse, re-entry to care and psychosocial outcomes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | London |
| Publisher | National Children's Bureau |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Keywords
- social work issues
- children on the edge of care
- looked after children