Families involved with child protective services are required to complete services as a precondition of reuniting with their children. Giving families greater flexibility in selecting service providers is a proven strategy for strengthening and preserving families.
Key points
– Families of children in foster care who are actively involved with service planning are statistically more likely to successfully reunite with their children.
– Current practice by the Department of Family and Protective Services limits families to receiving services only from providers who are under contract with the department.
– Allowing families to receive services from a qualified or licensed provider of their choosing will increase the quality and availability of reunification services.