Reinvolvement after returning home: A systematic review of the factors associated with post-reunification child protection involvement

Ebony Tucker; Melissa O'Donnell; Jacynta Krakouer; Olivia Octoman

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107515

Reinvolvement after returning home: A systematic review of the factors associated with post-reunification child protection involvement

Child Abuse Negl. 2025 Jun 16:167:107515. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107515. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ebony Tucker¹, Melissa O'Donnell², Jacynta Krakouer³, Olivia Octoman⁴

Affiliations

¹ Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: ebony.tucker@mymail.unisa.edu.au.
² Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: melissa.o'donnell@unisa.edu.au.
³ Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: jacynta.krakouer@unisa.edu.au.
⁴ Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: olivia.octoman@unisa.edu.au.

PMID: 40527098
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107515

Abstract

Background: Internationally, reinvolvement with child protection following children's reunification from out-of-home care (OOHC) is a significant concern which impacts children, families, and child protection systems. Understanding the factors that impact long-term safe and stable reunification remains imperative to maltreatment prevention for and preservation of reunified families.

Objective: This systematic review aims to better understand the factors related to repeat child protection involvement for children and their families, following reunification from OOHC internationally.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted to identify peer-reviewed and grey literature across seven databases. A total of 42 papers (38 quantitative, 4 qualitative) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review.

Results: Several child- (age, disability, behavioral challenges, ethnicity), family- (substance abuse, removal reason, family history of child protection, poverty, child development knowledge), and child welfare/practice-level factors (length of OOHC, placement type and moves, caseworker practices and knowledge) were found to negatively impact child protection reinvolvement following reunification.

Conclusions: Families experiencing reunification often face complex social, emotional, financial, and cultural challenges, in addition to extensive trauma histories, which negatively influence child protection decision making and outcomes. Findings of the review garner attention towards family need and individualized assessment following reunification, as opposed to markers flagging high-risk groups for reinvolvement and failed reunification. Recognizing the complexity of family challenges and impact of specific child protection practices remains fundamental in any efforts to help preserve reunified families and prevent repeat child protection involvement.

Keywords: Child protection; Foster care; Permanence; Re-entry; Reinvolvement; Reunification; Review.

Publication types

Review