The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare
The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare

This document was printed from the website of the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), which you can access at http://www.cachildwelfareclearinghouse.org/

Michigan Family Reunification Program - Detailed Report

Scientific Rating:
4
Lacks Adequate Research Evidence
See scale of 1-6
Scientific Rating:
4 - Lacks Adequate Research Evidence
On a scale of 1-6

Relevance to Child Welfare Rating:
1
High
See scale of 1-3
Relevance to Child Welfare Rating:
1 - High
On a scale of 1-3

Type of Maltreatment: Emotional abuse, Exposure to domestic violence, Physical abuse, Physical neglect, and Sexual abuse

Target Population: Families with children ages 0-17 being reunified from foster care or relative placement.

Brief Description:

The Michigan Family Reunification Program has been rated by the CEBC in the area of Reunification. The program is designed to assist in an early return to a permanent family for children in out-of-home foster care placement. In addition, it is designed to reduce repeat placement through a planned process of reunifying children in out-of-home care with their families using a variety of services. It is also designed to provide support in achieving and maintaining permanency in the family home.

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Essential Components

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  • The team leader provides clinical, in-home counseling, and works in conjunction with a family worker who addresses the non-clinical needs of the family (budgeting, parenting, case management, etc)
  • Twelve families are served per team at one time. Each team serves 24-36 families per year.
  • The program is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Specific Assistance funds are used to meet family needs.
  • Direct therapeutic, supportive, and concrete services are used.
  • Thorough assessments measuring on-going strengths, needs, safety, and risk are performed.
  • The Initial Service Plan includes goals, action plans, progress reports.
  • Respite care for children is available for up to five days.
  • Included in this model are a parent education component, quarterly parent workshops, and quarterly family activities.
  • Referrals to the program may be made up to 30 days prior to the reunification.

Group Format

Michigan Family Reunification Program was not designed to be conducted in a group.

Michigan Family Reunification Program has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended Parameters

Recommended intensity: An average of 4 hours of face-to-face contact per week. This weekly contact is conducted in single or multiple contacts depending on the needs of the family. The number of hours is higher, 8 or more, during the two weeks following reunification of the child(ren).

Recommended duration: 4-6 months
Average of 4 hours per week during this intervention, with 8 or more hours per week during the first two weeks following reunification.

Homework

Michigan Family Reunification Program does not include a homework component.

Delivery Setting

Michigan Family Reunification Program is typically conducted in a(n): Birth Family Home.

Parent Component

Michigan Family Reunification Program was designed with a Parent Component.

Michigan Family Reunification Program addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms: Corporal punishment, neglect, inappropriate developmental expectations, trust and safety issues.

Child Component

Michigan Family Reunification Program was not designed with a Child Component.

Michigan Family Reunification Program was not developed for children with developmental delays.

Michigan Family Reunification Program has not been tested for children with developmental delays.

Racial/Ethnic Diversity

Michigan Family Reunification Program was not designed for specific racial/ethnic/cultural groups.

Michigan Family Reunification Program was not tested in specific racial/ethnic/cultural groups.

Education and Training Resources

There is a manual that describes how to implement this program.

There is training available for Michigan Family Reunification Program.

Training contact: Cheryl Henry, HenryC@michigan.gov

Number of days/hours: Informal, no set number of days or hours

Training is obtained: Informal Consultation

There currently are not additional qualified resources for training.

Identified Resources Necessary to Implement Program

The typical resources for implementing Michigan Family Reunification Program are: the family home and/or community.

Special events, such as workshops, group family activities, and the parent education component may be held within a provider agency’s building, but we recommend they be within the community.

Minimum Provider Qualifications

Team leader – Master’s degree in human services, preferably social worker.
Worker – Bachelor’s degree in human services.
Supervisor – Bachelor’s degree in human services.

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

Michigan Family Reunification Program currently has no published, peer-reviewed research studies.

References

Show References

Family reunification contracts put new life into home-based family counseling in Michigan (2001, Fall). Practice: Ideas For and From Practitioners. Retrieved from http://www.mihomebased.com/practice/issues/old-site/fall01.html.

Skillman Foundation (1999). Evaluation of the Family Reunification Program: Results of the family reunification and foster care comparison study (Final Report). Skillman Foundation: Detroit, MI.


Contact Information

Contact name: Cheryl Henry

Email: HenryC@michigan.gov

Phone: 517-241-7358

Fax: 517-335-7789

Date reviewed: May 2008 (originally reviewed in July 2006)