A holistic family reunification services model for children in alternative care

Abstract

Placement of children in alternative care is supposed to be a temporary and not a permanent arrangement (Children’s Act 38 of 2005). However, most children in alternative care stay for longer periods than needed because family reunification services are not being effectively practiced in the absence of a family reunification services model in South Africa.

The goal of the study was to develop a holistic family reunification services model for children in alternative care. The researcher used the Design and Development model to undertake intervention research. The study employed the exploratory sequential mixed methods research design, which combined qualitative and quantitative research approaches in a two-phased study. Case study and survey designs were adopted in the respective phases. The researcher collected data for the qualitative phase of the study by means of one-on-one semi-structured interviews and used a questionnaire to collect data for the quantitative study.

The findings indicate elements of successful family reunification cases as well as measures to overcome challenges in family unification services and to ensure that social workers render holistic family reunification services. Findings also indicate cases where family reunification is not a possibility.

The study concludes that the success of family reunification depends on a wide range of factors. For family reunification services to be effective, these services should be adapted to accommodate diverse, specific and unique needs of families. Furthermore, family reunification services should allocate sufficient time and activities to develop relationships between the key role players involved in the family reunification process.

The study recommends that the types of services rendered in the family reunification spectrum should be aligned to a rights-based approach. As an outcome of the study, the researcher designed a holistic family reunification services model to guide and assist social workers who work in child protection services to render effective, comprehensive and timely reunification services to children and their families.