Children returning from care: The challenging circumstances of parents in poverty

Examines longitudinal data on reasons for entry to care, trajectories in care and patterns of reunification and associated factors by examining case file reviews and placement tracking analyses for 502 children. Findings include: most reunifications were found to occur within 12 months; poverty in the form of financial problems and homelessness emerged as predictors of a lower probability of reunification. Highlights need for a whole family approach to the reunification process including assessment and parenting support.