SAFY Honors June as Reunification Month
Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth, Inc. (SAFY) is proud to commemorate June as Reunification Month, highlighting the critical importance of keeping families together. As a leading provider of foster care, behavioral health, and family supportive services, SAFY is dedicated to supporting families on their journey toward reunification whenever it is safe and possible.
Reunification Month highlights the resilience and strength of families who have overcome significant challenges to reunite with their children. It also acknowledges the dedicated professionals, foster parents, and community partners who work to support families throughout our community.
Systemic challenges, such as inadequate access to mental health services, housing stability, racism, and economic hardship, often pose significant barriers to reunification. SAFY’s comprehensive approach addresses these causes by offering various supportive services, including innovative practices like our Parent Partners program. This evidence-based program supports parents with children in foster care to reunify with their children. Our Parent Partners serve as peer mentors, helping others navigate the child welfare system. They have helped 12 families reunify in our Ohio program since it started in 2023.
“At SAFY, our primary goal is to create a safe and nurturing environment that enables families to stay together,” said Dr. Charisse Penn, SAFY of Ohio’s Parent Partners Program Manager. “We know that children thrive best with their families, and we are committed to providing the necessary support and services to make reunification a reality. Our Parent Partners draw on their lived experiences to help others overcome similar challenges. We want to thank our partners, the National Quality Improvement Center on Family Centered Reunification and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, for their support and commitment to supporting families every step of the way.”
SAFY is proud to celebrate the successes of families who have reunited, recognize those working towards their goals, and highlight the critical work of making reunification possible. For more information about SAFY and its programs, please visit www.SAFY.org.
