A Statewide Evaluation of Family Preservation and Family Reunification Services

Abstract

In recent years, social workers have begun to focus on services intended to help keep families together. This article describes evaluation studies of family preservation and reunification services provided to families of status offenders across the state of Florida. Logistic regression methods were used to identify correlates offamily preservation and family reunification in data from 4,195 families served by 23 Florida Network of Youth and Family Services programs during fiscal year 1989-1990. Statistically significant models were identified for both family preservation and family reunification efforts. Then data from families served by Florida Network agencies during fiscal years 1988-1989 (2,065 families) and 1990-1991 (3,931 families) were analyzed in a model validation study. Several demographic, client history, and service variables were identified as correlates of family preservation and family reunification. The implications of these results for the efforts of social workers to preserve and reunify families are discussed.

Homeless adolescents' paths to separation from family: Comparison of family characteristics, psychological adjustment, and victimization

“…Nor were they found for emotional or material support, which, along with the generally low means, suggests the extreme degree to which these youths feel cut off from their families regardless of separation path. One implication is that those programs aimed at reuniting these youths with their families (e.g., Nugent, Carpenter, & Parks, 1993) may have an easier time with the parents of runaways (who are more willing to allow the adolescent to come home), but will still be dealing with a large measure of alienation and detachment from familial influence.…”

Sustaining families, dissuading crime: The effectiveness of a family preservation program with male delinquents

“…Given the program's success in these cases, interest shifted toward using the approach with juvenile delinquents. Current research on FP is split as to its effects on juvenile delinquency, with some studies finding positive changes (Haapala & Kinney, 1988) and others finding no effect (Nugent, Carpenter, & Parks, 1993;Coleman & Jenson, 2000). The current study adds to the body of literature by assessing this divide.…”

“…During their three-year follow-up, the data showed that children with problem behaviors were significantly more likely to receive a subsequent court conviction than abused youths; suggesting that FP services may be less successful with this population. Similarly, Nugent and colleagues (Nugent, Carpenter, & Parks, 1993) conducted an evaluation in Florida and found that juvenile delinquency was linked with service failure. Families with a delinquent youth were significantly less likely to remain together or to be reunited after receiving FP services.…”

Family Therapy Training and Workforce Planning

“…There is a strong and growing evidence base for family therapy which may be drawn on (Gurman et al 1986;Hazelrigg et al 1987;Markus et al 1990;Nugent et al 1993;Bergin and Garfield, 1994;Chamberlain and Rosicky, 1995;Goldstein and Miklowitz, 1995;Pinsof and Wynne, 1995;Shadish et al 1995;Carr, 2000aCarr, , 2000b. Our appreciation of the construction of knowledge fosters a scepticism about 'facts' that often constrains the way we use evidence, but a recent conference on systemic therapy and research for trainers and trainees (Leeds, 2001) signals new collaboration in changing the place of research in training and in the profession.…”