Foster Care Reunification

Measure

Number of children exiting foster care who are reunified with their birth families or legally placed with a relative within 12 months of entering care.


Why is this indicator important?

Foster care is for children, ages 0-17, who are removed from their parents' or guardians' homes and are cared for in a different setting, such as a family foster care home, relatives' homes, a group residential home, or an institutional care facility. 

The number of youth placed in out-of-home (foster) care due to neglect and abuse is an indicator of the prevalence of families with poor parenting skills and unhealthy/unsafe lifestyles.  Youth in foster care need extra support to succeed since these children are more likely to have emotional/mental health problems, are more likely to be involved in delinquency, and are less likely to graduate from high school.  The goal of foster care is to provide the abused/neglected child with a home and family until the child is either returned to his/her birth parents or is adopted.

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) attempts to maintain in-home placements whenever possible. Provision of support services such as parenting, counseling, transportation, and medical care are important to maintaining a healthy and safe family unit. Reunification services are also available to assist biological parents and children to continue visitation in preparation of restoring the child to the home.


How are we doing in Hall County?

• 20 children in Hall County had more than one placement in 2006, the rate of 37% was better than the state rate of 48%.

• 11 children were reunified in 2006, but only four were reunified within 12 months.

• The reunification rate (within 12 months) in Hall County in 2006 was 36%, compared to the state reunification rate of 76%.

What does research tell us we can do to improve this indicator?

• Maintain family connections when children are in foster care

• Train social workers to recognize the age-specific needs of children and families waiting to be reunified

• Ensure that children receive aftercare services, including counseling, home visitation, housing assistance, and respite care to prepare them for re-entry into the home and community

• Increase the availability of foster care settings

• Provide quality services for families with children in foster care