Boysville of Michigan Family Reunification Project. Final Report, May 17, 1989 - June 30, 1991.

In 1989, Boysville of Michigan received funding to design and implement a family reunification program that could be disseminated statewide and nationally for replication. The site for the pilot project was Detroit (Michigan) and surrounding communities, an economically depressed, urban area. The Homebuilders Model, which emphasizes children's rights to their family, child safety, families' ability to change, family strengths, and flexible, time-limited services, was utilized. Families with children just coming into the foster care system were the target population. The Boysville Program provided 3 to 5 weeks of intensive services (5-20 hours per week) before children returned home and 5 weeks of intensive services after they returned home. Homebuilders' interventions consisted of cognitive and behavioral approaches, both hard and soft services, and behaviorally specific goals. The caseload size was two families for each caseworker. The caseworkers found that the problems confronting troubled families were more extreme versions of similar problems confronting any family and that parents were highly motivated to get their children back. During the project, 50 families were referred to the program; 40 (80%) completed the program; and 32 were reunited with their children. Problems encountered included difficulties in convincing social service workers and juvenile court judges about the mission and goals of family reunification. Progress in accomplishing each of the project's goals is assessed. (AC)