Reunification Month: How to Put Families Together Again

Eugenia Marks of CASA described successful reunification as “The child returns to a safe, stable home with their parents—the reason for the removal has been remedied."

Marks along with some of her peers were featured on a panel in Springdale, Arkansas, to address a shared mission: supporting families in crisis—especially biological parents working toward reunification and the foster families walking alongside them.

Carlos Garbutt, County Coordinator for the 100 Families Initiative of Benton County and Community Impact Director at United Way of NWA, facilitated. The community members who gathered explored the importance of reunification, the systemic barriers families face, and the role of community in breaking those barriers down.

At the heart of the conversation was a clear message: reunification is the goal—and when done safely and with support, it’s a good thing for families.

"We cannot serve the child...if we are not supporting the family,” Marks added.

Kerri Adams, a foster parent and representative from The CALL in NWA, spoke to the powerful impact of reunification when it’s rooted in lasting relationships. She shared moving examples of foster and biological families who not only worked together during the child welfare case but continued their connection long after.

“Seeing families who have connected and built rapport with the biological families, and if appropriate, those relationships are built and maintained post reunification,” she explained. In some cases, foster families even provide ongoing childcare support—creating a true sense of community around the child’s future.

While the desire to reunify families is strong, the panelists were candid about the significant barriers that make it difficult for families to succeed.

Marks outlined three most common challenges: employment, housing, and transportation. These are often required for case plan completion, yet out of reach for many families. They struggle with these in the midst of the long list of expectations placed on them with a child welfare case.

Andrew Dammon of Youth Villages pointed out that technology can be a major barrier for families as well. Many applications for services have moved online, but the systems aren’t always user-friendly or accessible. For families without internet access or digital literacy, even completing a basic form can be overwhelming.

“It takes time and knowledge,” he said, highlighting the need for more support in navigating these tools.

Beyond logistics, families often face emotional and relational barriers.

Marks emphasized that when professionals approach families with a list of demands, it often creates resistance. She says the power and privilege dynamic with families can make them feel unheard or judged—but when they are treated as capable partners in the process, something shifts.

“You need to level the playing field,” Marks says. “They are human. We all make mistakes. Remind them that they are the drivers for change in getting their kids back.” That can make all the difference in empowering birth parents to take the steps necessary for reunification.

“You’re trying to build that trust and rapport, and they don’t want to talk to you,” she explained. But when parents begin to believe they’re doing the work—not because someone in authority is telling them to, but because it’s what’s best for themselves and their family—the results can be powerful. “They start to speak up and advocate for themselves. They also start to actually do the work.”

Dammon added a similar perspective, reminding the group, “People do well if they can. If they are not doing well, what is inhibiting them?” His insight echoed the need to approach parents with empathy and curiosity, rather than judgment—recognizing that most parents want to succeed, but something in their life is making it difficult.

This highlighted a major barrier: the shortage of available resources. Eaton pointed out that there simply aren’t enough people or services to fully support children and their parents. She noted that many kids in the system are on waiting lists for counseling they urgently need, and emphasized the need for more churches to step in and help—especially by opening their homes to foster.

She notes that many in the faith community hesitate to get involved because of the fear of getting too attached. “But that is what kids need," she says to this claim. "Adults - we can handle getting our hearts broken. The kids can't. They've already had their hearts broken. We need help putting them back together... We just need more people to step outside their comfort zone."

Despite these challenges, the tone of the conversation remained hopeful—because community partnerships are making a difference. When each agency, advocate, and support system shows up and fulfills its role, families are more likely to succeed.

“Working together with families in those partnerships really impacts our families in greater ways,” says Dammon. “We all have our roles to play, and when we play those roles, the family benefits.”

One of the most promising tools in this effort is HopeHub, a collaborative software platform that helps partners in the 100 Families Initiative to share information in a HIPAA compliant way and connect families to services in real time.

“The biggest way to make it attainable is to put it all in one place,” said Marks. “The resources are there, but they aren’t necessarily being tapped into.”

The panelists agreed that the key to family success is community—what truly makes a difference in helping parents achieve reunification is surrounding them with support and a strong sense of belonging. For this reason, The 100 Families Initiative in Benton County continues to serve as a vital bridge between families in crisis and the partners who are eager to help.