At Children’s Home Society of Florida, we witness the power of family every single day. We see parents rise from some of the darkest places, determined to bring their children home. And we walk alongside them, step by step, cheering them on through the setbacks and celebrating the milestones.

That’s why Reunification Month each June is so important to us. It’s a time to celebrate families who’ve worked hard to reunite. It’s a time to honor the dedication of our case managers, community partners, foster families, and – most importantly – parents and kids who never gave up on each other.

Because at CHS, we believe families can heal.

One Family’s Story of Strength and Reunification

Let us introduce you to one of the families who reminds us why we do this work.

Last August, five children were removed from their home because of concerns related to parental substance misuse. It was a painful moment – for the children and for their mother. But that moment didn’t define their story. What happened next did.

The mother didn’t waste time. She immediately enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program and completed it successfully. From there, she moved into a sober living facility, determined to create a safe, stable environment for her children.

By August 2024, she had earned unsupervised visits. And just a few weeks later, three of her children were reunified with her. By the end of October, the entire family was back together.

That’s not just a milestone. That’s a testament to love, perseverance, and growth.

But what’s truly inspiring is what she’s done since. This mother didn’t stop at reunification – she’s now a substance abuse sponsor, helping others through recovery. She advocates for therapeutic services for herself and her children. She takes accountability, understands the trauma her children faced, and makes intentional, thoughtful decisions to ensure their safety and emotional well-being.

This is what healing looks like.

A Potential Setback… And a Creative Solution

But just when closure was around the corner, the family faced an unexpected challenge. The sober living facility where they were staying had an age restriction – all children had to be under 10. Their oldest was about to turn 10 just days before the case was scheduled to close.

That meant one thing: they had to leave the facility early, before the court could finalize their case. Suddenly, this reunified family was at risk of becoming homeless. And, even worse, the children were at risk of returning to foster care – after everything they had worked so hard to overcome.

But at CHS, we don’t walk away when things get tough. We problem-solve.

The family’s case manager – now a CHS supervisor – took immediate action. She researched housing options and used our Family Support Funds, made possible by donors and partners in our community, to secure a temporary Airbnb for the family. It bought them just enough time – 30 days – to stay safely together until the case officially closed in April 2025.

This kind of proactive, compassionate problem-solving is what reunification support looks like in real life. It’s messy. It’s complicated. And it’s worth every effort.

Why Reunification Month Matters

Every June, we celebrate stories like this one – stories of parents who rise up, children who heal, and communities that rally around families instead of turning away.

Reunification Month reminds us that:

  • Families deserve support, not judgment.

  • With the right help, people can change.

  • Kids belong with their families whenever it’s safe – and we can help make that safety possible.

To the families still working toward reunification: we see you, and we believe in you.
To the ones who’ve made it: we celebrate you.
And to our team, community partners, and supporters: thank you for making this work possible.

Together, we’re keeping families safe, strong, and – most importantly – together.