Rebuilding Family Relations for Children and Youth Separated from Family

By: Sarah Hean and Vanessa Heaslip and Jonathan Parker and Pravin Tembjerg

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Synopsis: This edited volume explores a range of causes for separation of children and young people from family, the impact of these causes, and methods that both professionals and families may employ to build or rebuild these relations. In particular, contributions focus on six high priority crises through which children and young people become either permanently or temporarily separated from their families: removal by child welfare services, migration, family breakdown, placement into institutional care, incarceration and/or the death of a parent. Authors emphasize the feelings of grief and loss experienced both by the child and their family whatever the separation context and the eventual impact on the young person ´s mental health. They conclude that reunification with the family is not always possible or desirable and permanent alternative sources of care and/or attachment may be required.  But if reunification is possible, it is a complex and a multidimensional pathway as children move from one care context to the next.  Innovation, coproduction with the birth family and tackling stigma and discrimination associated with family separations, is a high priority.