Alternate family placement (AFP) programs to facilitate family reunification: A literary synthesis

This dissertation investigates the effectiveness of different treatment programs designed to achieve family reunification for children placed in alternative family placement, such as foster care and group homes. This is a qualitative exploratory study that tests no hypotheses. The dissertation presents a meta-synthesis of alternate family placement (AFP) treatments that describe family reunification as one of their goals and addressed the following research question: What treatment methods or strategies have been shown to be effective at returning children in AFP to their primary family environment (PFE)? Different search terms were used in several electronic databases to identify articles written in English and published after 1998 on the topic of interest. Both qualitative and quantitative journal articles related to family reunification were reviewed. Separate analyses and interpretations were performed for the quantitative and qualitative data. Meta-synthetic techniques were used to integrate the different types of information. A total of 15 articles were reviewed. All of these articles addressed issues of AFP and family reunification. Seven of the articles were qualitative research, seven were quantitative, and one used mixed methods. Service provider variables were discussed such as the level of knowledge and commitment on the part of the foster care workers and case managers; these appear to be important aspects of the reunification process. A problem recognized in the studies was that many foster care agencies face structural problems that prevent case workers and case managers from being as actively involved as might be needed. The largest problem appears to be the sheer caseload volume that often exists. When intensive therapy is provided and encouraged, the data seem to indicate that there is a greater likelihood of not only reunification between parents and children but a greater likelihood of the reunification being successful over the long term. Family engagement in reunification planning is fundamental in creating successful reunifications. This can include the relationship between the caseworker and the family, parent-child visitation, and involvement of foster parents in facilitating visits between birth parents and children. Suggestions for future research, training, and practice are discussed.