Goal:  To help parents complete the Court-ordered Case Plan, to address special needs of children in Foster Care, to provide for family visitation, and to facilitate successful reunification.  If reunification is not possible, to provide the most permanent plan for a child, preferably with a family member.

The family reunification Social Worker III's and IV's work with:

Parents,

Children,  

Foster Parents,

Caretakers Relatives,

Counselors, 

Schools,

Other involved agencies

Length of the Reunification process is:  6 - 12 months or a maximum of 18 months by Court Order.  It is vital for parents to begin the Court-ordered reunification Case Plan immediately to insure completion with the legal time limit.

Trial Visits:  At completion or near completion of the Case Plan, the Social Worker may ask the Court to return the children to one or both parents on a trial basis, a minimum of 90 days, before the case is terminated in Court.  This can occur at any time during Reunification.

Custody:  When only one parent (who resides in California) completes reunification, the Court may grant custody of the children to that parent.

Case disposition:  A case is

1. dismissed at the end of a successful trial visit;

2. sent to Adoptions, if the Court orders Adoption, and dismissed after Adoption is completed;

3. sent to Permanent Placement if Long Term Foster Care is ordered, or

4. dismissed after a relative guardianship is completed.

 Appeals:  All court hearings may be appealed through Superior Court of the 5th District court of Appeals.

Court Reports and Hearings

The law requires a comprehensive Court report and hearing every 6 months.  Hearings often occur every 2 months to review a family's progress.

1. 6 Month Court Review Hearing:

The Court reviews the family's progress on the Case Plan.  Reunification services can be terminated in some cases or continued. 

2. 12 Month court Hearing (May also be the Permanency Planning Hearing):

The Court reviews the Case Plan progress and may order an additional 6 months  if the parents are close to completing their Case Plan.

3. Permanency Planning Hearing (Called 366.21 or 366.22 Hearing)"

Witnesses are frequently subpoenaed to this hearing which is held at 12 or 18 months.  Reunification services are terminated.

If the children cannot safely be returned home, the Social Worker must recommend on of the Permanent Plans in the following preferred order:

1. Adoption

2. Guardianship, or

3. Long Term Foster Care

4. The hearing to terminated parental rights or establish guardianship is called a 366.26 hearing.

Family Decision Meetings are held to make permanent placement decisions for children at any time during reunification.  FDM's are also held to safety place for children returning to their parents.