Understanding Reunification Services in Juvenile Dependency Cases

When it comes to reunification services in juvenile dependency cases, one of the court’s goals is to help children return to their parents' care, provided the home is safe. However, the family must first satisfy specific conditions before the child is allowed to return home. For instance, they may be expected to complete family therapy and parenting classes. Other parents may be required to obtain a job or complete drug rehab.

With the help of experienced dependency attorneys in CA, you can get professional help navigating your case. Your attorney can help you understand key deadlines, case requirements, and all of the rules involved, so you can achieve a better outcome.

Typically, 46% of children who exit foster care are reunited with their families, so there are good odds that a parent-child reunification will happen. Even though reunification isn’t always successful, it’s the primary goal of any placement. The court will only allow an adoption or guardianship plan if they are convinced that this is in the best interest of the child.

In general, a child is placed in foster care only if there are no other safe options available. For instance, the child may have loving, out-of-state grandparents available to care for them. Because of the grandparents’ location, they may still be placed in foster care if a domestic violence issue occurs at home. If there are local family members available who have a safe living situation, the court may place the child with them instead.

When it comes to child welfare and family reunification, there are a few requirements that must take place before a child can be returned to their home. You won’t have to guess what your court-ordered requirements are because the case plan will clearly say what types of therapy or rehabilitative services you need in your case plan. If you work through your personal plan, you can achieve a better outcome.

If you don’t understand what you are expected to do in your legal case, you can always talk to a qualified juvenile dependency attorney or reach out to your social worker. While each case is different, the following are a few examples of case plan requirements.

• Substance abuse rehabilitation: If you have suffered from substance abuse in the past, you may be expected to go to rehab or attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings.
• Parenting classes or family therapy: Sometimes, Child Protective Services (CPS) will recommend parenting classes or family therapy if there is a dysfunctional home life.
• Housing, food, and employment: If a parent doesn’t have a job, home, or income, they will struggle to provide for the child. The caseworker will require the parent to remedy these deficits before letting the child return home. In Orange County, the Family Unification Program (FUP) provides rental assistance to families who may be separated because of their lack of housing.

In a typical year, more than 380,000 cases are referred to CPS in California for potential abuse or neglect. On average, children who are placed in foster care spend 25.4 months in care before they are adopted or allowed to return home.

To increase the likelihood of having your child returned home, take advantage of juvenile dependency services in California. Family reunification services, like parenting classes and housing aid, can help you stick to your case plan so that you can get your children back.

If you’re struggling to navigate reunification services and juvenile dependency court, you don’t have to deal with the process alone. One of our experienced family reunification attorneys can help you build a case, understand the court’s requirements, and work toward reunification. To learn more about juvenile dependency cases in California, email our team today.