Disconnect or Convergence? Perceptions of Family Reunification in South Africa’s Child Protection System

Abstract Family reunification is a vital process in child welfare, aimed at reunifying children in alternative care with their biological families. Despite its importance, it remains a challenging and contentious issue in South Africa. Additionally, the absence of comprehensive preparation for reunification and aftercare support typically aggravates the challenges faced by such families. This article focused on exploring and describing the perceptions of designated social workers, Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) professionals and managers, and parents / caregivers on family reunification services in order to better understand current family reunification practices in South Africa. Guided by the bio-ecological and strength-based theories, this qualitative study used a phenomenological and qualitative descriptive design to explore and describe perceptions of the different role players involved. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and unstructured interviews, and subsequently analysed using thematic analysis and phenomenological data analysis. The data revealed four distinct themes: i) elements present in existing family reunification practices, ii) role players involved in family reunification services, iii) social work theories and approaches used by social workers when rendering family reunification services, and iv) factors contributing to failed family reunification services. This study highlights the challenges of family reunification services in South Africa’s child protection system, emphasising the need for a collective, inclusive, and family-centred approach. It stresses the importance of developing effective, sustainable solutions that promote convergence and prioritise all stakeholders’ needs.