In-home family-focused reunification: an experimental study

Abstract

Intensive, in-home family-based services were employed in reunifying families separated by the placement of a child in out-of-home care. After a 90-day service period, 93% of the 57 families randomly assigned to receive the intensive treatment were reunited-compared to 28% of the 53 families in a control group who received routine out-of-home care services. Follow-up data were collected six and 12 months after the end of treatment. Estimates of outcomes suggest that the experimental treatment had a substantial impact on families and that treatment effects endured for upwards of 12 months following cessation of direct intervention services.