Current Evidence-Based Practice in Family Reunification or Reintegration

This chapter reviews current evidence on family reunification and reintegration for children in alternative care, including residential, foster, kinship, and other out-of-home settings. Drawing on international research and child rights frameworks, it distinguishes reunification as the formal return of a child to parents or kin from reintegration as the longer-term process of restoring safe, stable family, and community relationships. The evidence consistently indicates that successful reunification depends on careful assessment, family strengthening, gradual transition, and sustained post-return support. The chapter synthesizes global findings on deinstitutionalization, evidence-based practice, family support strategies, care-leaver outcomes, and challenges related to trafficking and exploitation. It also examines the legal and policy foundations that promote family-based care while recognizing that reunification is not appropriate in every case and that child safety and well-being must remain paramount. The chapter concludes by presenting a policy framework that integrates prevention, case management, workforce development, community engagement, monitoring, and accountability to support sustainable family-based care and improve outcomes for vulnerable children.