Background: Family reunification refers to the process through which children and adolescents under a measure of temporary separation (foster care or residential) return to live with their biological families. The research has begun to reflect a paradigm change in intervention and support for these families that affects the consolidation of reunification and the prevention of new processes of separation and reentry into the protection system. Objectives: This article examines the needs of parents who are susceptible to an educational intervention from a positive focus that contributes to the consolidation of family reunification. Method: Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted and 22 discussion groups were convened with 135 participants (63 protection-system professionals, 42 parents and 30 children and adolescents). The data were analyzed through content analysis and were subject to peer revision. Results: A series of parents' specific educational needs when their children return home was recognized. These needs can be the objects of family intervention based on a positive focus directed toward highlighting parents' strengths and are related to awareness of family progress, emotional management, giving and receiving help from other families and social support. The participants' comments show that feelings of self-sufficiency and positive reinforcement are fundamental for consolidation of the process. Conclusions: Social support through formal and informal networks may be a path to explore for providing more and better support after returning home. Empowering families so that they can be agents of support for other families can be a way to consolidate reunification, allowing families to be active agents in the reunification process. In addition, listening to children's voices can be a good strategy for family consolidation.

Please cite this article as: M. Ángeles Balsells, Nuria Fuentes-Peláez, Crescencia Pastor , Listening to the voices of children in decision-making: A challenge for the child protection system in Spain, Children and Youth Services Review (2017),

In Spain, an average of 480 children per 100,000 is receiving some type of temporary care, and the reunification process is typically lengthy. Providing the biological family with specific training as part of the reunification process is key to solving this problem. Although previous research and social policy have emphasized the importance of such training to reunification, the training has not been fully implemented in Spain. This study investigates the specific training needs during the transition phase of the reunification process in which the child prepares to return home. The data were obtained from focus groups and through semi-structured interviews with 135 participants: 63 professionals from the Child Protection System and 42 parents and 30 children who have undergone or are currently undergoing reunification. A qualitative methodology and Atlas.ti software were used to analyze the interview content. The results indicate three specific training needs: (a) understanding the reasons for reunification and the reunification phases; (b) empowerment strategies; and (c) social support. These findings suggest the best OPEN ACCESS

Research suggests that the social support received from fathers and mothers is a key factor in the reunification process, particularly on a foster child's return home. However, little is known regarding the nature of this support, its sources and the aspects on which such support should be focused. The aim of this study is to describe the social support that families require at the time of a child's return to successfully re-establish the family positive dynamics, functioning and routines. This research is based on information gathered in Spain from a focus group and in interviews of 63 professionals, 42 parents and 30 children. The method is qualitative, and the ATLAS.ti program is used for content analysis. The qualitative data enable a better understanding of the views of the individuals involved. The results indicate the relevance of the support provided by the protection system and the social services. The results also reveal the insufficiency of the informal support network. These findings suggest implications for social workers when focusing post-reunification support on specific needs linked to parental skills, personal difficulties of the parents and the stability of the family context.

Résumé Pour plusieurs raisons, le placement en famille élargie est le plus difficile (Amorós et Palacios, 2004). Fréquemment, les accueillants sont âgés, ont un niveau d’éducation inférieur, plus de problèmes de santé, moins de ressources, etc. Eu égard à la complexité de la tâche, il est essentiel que ces familles comptent sur des appuis et disposent des ressources nécessaires. Le Groupe de recherche en intervention socio-éducative de l’enfance et de la jeunesse (GRISIJ) de l’université de Barcelone, présente un programme de recherche sur l’accueil en famille élargie, dans le but de développer un modèle d’intervention socio-éducatif s’adressant aux familles élargies qui accueillent un adolescent. Son principal objectif est d’identifier et de renforcer les habiletés des familles élargies et des adolescents accueillis, pour que l’action socio-éducative améliore les relations interfamiliales (entre les membres de la famille d’accueil, les parents biologiques et les adolescents). Cela permettra, à l’adolescent, de gérer sa réalité ainsi que les situations de conflit qui peuvent surgir dans cette situation.