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Facilitators and barriers to reunification among housing unstable families

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  • Bai, Rong
  • Collins, Cyleste
  • Fischer, Robert
  • Crampton, David

Abstract

Housing unstable families with child welfare system involvement face multiple challenges to successfully reunifying with their families. This explanatory qualitative study followed up on findings from a county-sponsored Pay for Success (PFS) RCT. The study focused on understanding the facilitators and barriers to reunification, bringing together the perspectives of a random sample of 16 housing-unstable caregivers whose children were in foster care, their PFS program workers, and their child welfare caseworkers. We conducted in-depth, in-person interviews with 52 participants. Major facilitators of reunification included strong client motivation, PFS program workers empowering and advocating for clients, the program’s ability to meet clients’ basic needs, and PFS program worker/child welfare worker collaboration. The barriers participants identified included the clients’ complex and continuing challenges and crises, limited and/or toxic social support systems, and systemic issues within the court and child welfare systems, including evaluations of worthiness and a failure to collaborate. We explore findings regarding their contribution to the literature on housing unstable families involved with child welfare and implications for practice, policy, and research.

Suggested Citation

  • Bai, Rong & Collins, Cyleste & Fischer, Robert & Crampton, David, 2023. "Facilitators and barriers to reunification among housing unstable families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:148:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923000713
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106876
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brook, Jody & McDonald, Thomas P. & Yan, Yueqi, 2012. "An analysis of the impact of the Strengthening Families Program on family reunification in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 691-695.
    2. Chambers, Ruth M. & Crutchfield, Rashida M. & Goddu Harper, Stephanie G. & Fatemi, Maryam & Rodriguez, Angel Y., 2018. "Family reunification in child welfare practice: A pilot study of parent and staff experiences," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 221-231.
    3. Ogbonnaya, Ijeoma Nwabuzor & Keeney, Annie J., 2018. "A systematic review of the effectiveness of interagency and cross-system collaborations in the United States to improve child welfare outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 225-245.
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    5. Tram T. B. Nguyen & Dong Li, 2022. "What does It Take to Achieve Safer Global Food Supply Chains?," Springer Books, in: Towards Safer Global Food Supply Chains, chapter 0, pages 103-115, Springer.
    6. Collins, Cyleste C. & Bai, Rong & Fischer, Robert & Crampton, David & Lalich, Nina & Liu, Chun & Chan, Tsui, 2020. "Housing instability and child welfare: Examining the delivery of innovative services in the context of a randomized controlled trial," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    7. Bai, Rong & Collins, Cyleste & Fischer, Robert & Crampton, David, 2019. "Pursuing collaboration to improve services for child welfare-involved housing unstable families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    8. Jedwab, Merav & Chatterjee, Anusha & Shaw, Terry V., 2018. "Caseworkers' insights and experiences with successful reunification," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 56-63.
    9. Chambers, Ruth M. & Brocato, Jo & Fatemi, Maryam & Rodriguez, Angel Y., 2016. "An innovative child welfare pilot initiative: Results and outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 143-151.
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