Family Reunification in Washington State: Which Children Go Home and How Long Does it Take?

Following 696 Washington children who were in out-of-home care in 2007/08 for up to a three-year period, this study provides evidence that children of parents who reported that they were “engaged” (e.g., trusted the child welfare system and/or their worker), had stable housing, and had completed a high school education reunified significantly faster than children of parents who were not engaged, had housing hardships, or failed to complete high school.