Allison Schild, Thriving Mind Peer Services Manager, was the keynote speaker for Reunification Month.

June is National Reunification Month, a month-long celebration of the year-round work, commitment, and investment of time and resources by parents, family members, child welfare professionals, service providers, attorneys, courts, and the community to reunify children with their families and provide them with a solid foundation for personal growth, development and maturity.

“Child welfare isn’t meant to be an adoption agency. It’s meant to strengthen families. It’s meant to lend a hand when things get tough. It’s meant to have REUNIFICATION as the primary goal whenever possible. And we all know that’s not what it feels like all the time. It’s hard. It’s made to be hard. To prove parents can take care of our children, it’s hard. To jump through the hoops and bend over backyards and say yes ma’am and yes sir even when you’re so angry you can’t see straight because the fear of showing any emotion… is a real fear. Being called “irrational” and “angry”. Even though you have every right to be angry. You’ve lost control and all say over your children, and you’re full of fear that any wrong move will be the end of a life with them,” Schild said in her keynote talk.

Throughout the month of June Citrus Family Care Network, in collaboration with system of care and community partners, will be commemorating National Reunification Month, as well as recognizing families who have successfully been reunified.

Our theme is The Power of Parents: Stronger Together.

Citrus Resource page for the month of events, videos and information:  https://www.citrusfcn.com/news-and-events/reunificationmonth2022/