Did you know June is National Reunification Month?
By Rachel Paashaus, PAE Coordinator and Kimberly Nichols, LSI Paralegal
Since 2012, June has been recognized as National Reunification Month, honoring the strength and resilience of families who reunite with the children they love. Reunification is a form of legal permanence, and it is the primary reason why children exit the foster care system, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
In Pennsylvania, available data shows that as of 2022, 42% (3,197) of children and youth who left foster care were reunified, followed by 29% (2,173) who were adopted. National Reunification Month honors the thousands of parents who work hard to overcome issues and challenges, such as substance abuse, poverty, generational trauma, systemic oppression, and/or housing, and safely reunify with their children.
In Pennsylvania, we are committed to permanency for every child in foster care and believe reunification is worth celebrating! National Reunification Month “recognizes the people and ongoing efforts around the country that help families stay together. It is also a time to recommit to strengthening, improving, and increasing those efforts all year long.”
How will you celebrate National Reunification Month this June? Here are some ideas to get you started…
- Contact local child welfare organizations to ask how you can get involved;
- Reach out to a local foster care agency to learn about how you can help families in your community;
- Make social media posts to help raise awareness; and
- Check out additional resources to learn more:
Child Welfare League of America
National CASA/GAL Association for Children
Administration for Children and Families
Creating a Successful Reunification
A Judge's Perspective on Family Reunification
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network Permanency Toolkit