Preparation for Exit – Family Reunification
The aim of the rehabilitation process described in the residential care is to reunify the child with the family, or with the community. Many children arrive at the shelter with little or no information about themselves. The intake interview will provide sketchy details of last known addresses. The Family Reunification Team (FRT) will make every effort to follow up all leads and find out about the home circumstances of the child.
The FRT will visit the last known address of the child. If the address is known, the FRT will visit the family in order to assess the situation at home and provide vital information to the Social Work team. The FRT may use other agencies to assist with information, but many times is required to drive to far away places to identify children.
The FRT will also make urgent applications for legal paperwork such as birth certificates of the child and any other certificates of birth or death of the parents.
Home visits are a vital link between the child in the ‘institution’ and the family or extended family and the community. The Family reunification team work determinedly to trace family members and then initiate contact between child and family. Such visits may start with monitored telephone conversations and progress until the child is able to visit the family for an extended period of time. The parents are often invited to visit the child at Kids Haven especially in situations where the perpetrator of any abuse remains in the family home. The process is managed carefully since the children’s expectations must be attended to and they receive assistance for this during Life Skills sessions.
The Family Reunification Team also identifies potential foster parents through the
parent-
The FRT will make regular telephonic contact with children placed back into the community. They will also make regular visits at random times.
The FRT will provide resources such as food parcels; school needs and even school
fees to children living at home. A thorough register is kept and families are encouraged
to become self-
It is possible to reduce the duplication of services provided by the State and us since Kids Haven works WITH the State to verify the families’ status prior to arranging assistance. An updated register is kept with proper identification and addresses of those in need. Our work in the Community allows us to network with other NGO’s who are doing similar work so that the holistic needs of families are addressed and that all needy families are assisted.
