Keeping Families Together: National Reunification Month

National Reunification Month is celebrated in June to recognize the people and efforts around the country that help families stay together or reunify children in the foster care system with their family and community. Keeping families together is at the core of our work in child welfare, and this month is a time to celebrate the families who have overcome obstacles to provide a safe and loving home for their children.

It’s estimated that there are over 400,000 children in the foster care system in the United States. And while many people believe that most of these children are in foster care because of abuse, the reality is that poverty, substance abuse, and domestic violence are the leading reasons why children end up in the foster care system.

In June, let’s celebrate National Reunification Month by bringing awareness to the importance of reuniting families who have been affected by these issues. Families who experience these issues need our help and deserve to participate in their own healing, change, and progress.

If you’re interested in celebrating National Reunification Month this year, there are a few ways you can get involved. First, you can learn more about the child welfare system and how it works to reunify families. You can also reach out to your local child welfare agency and see how you can help support their work. Finally, you can spread the word about National Reunification Month and help raise awareness of the importance of keeping families together.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, National Reunification Month is a great time to show your support for families and kids in the child welfare system. Let’s come together and celebrate the strength of families this June!

Please visit the National Bar Association’s site dedicated to family reunification for additional information.

Contributing Author:

Jeff Lukich is Child Welfare Strategy and Practice Lead at DLH Corporation.  Previously, he served 30 years with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services overseeing all programs for the organization, including child welfare.  He retired in 2018 as the Division’s Chief of Staff.