The primary goal of foster care is reunification. From the time a child or youth comes into care their social worker, resource parent, Guardian ad Litem, and birth parent should all be working together to help the child or youth return to a safe environment. Of course, there are situations when children and youth cannot be reunified, and different permanency plans are put into place to serve the best interest of the child or youth. While those situations certainly occur, we begin our journey as resource parents with the hope of helping children and youth return home.
In this issue of Fostering Perspectives, we wanted to share a variety of viewpoints and experiences related to reunification. From youth with lived experience, to kinship caregivers, successful reunification stories, resource parents continuing to foster after grief, and innovate practices to move reunification forward, this issue’s contributors open up and share their very personal experiences. Hopefully this issue inspires, educates, and enlightens you to consider the different paths, strategies, and impacts of reunification. We hope you find it helpful.
