For parents with children placed in foster care, the road to reunification can be challenging – requiring months, sometimes years, of perseverance and personal growth to regain custody and make their family whole again.
To honor the parents who have successfully reunified with their children, the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County is proud to be part of the 13th annual Family Reunification Day. The event will be held on Sunday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sky Zone Trampoline Park located at 928 West Camelback Road in Phoenix. Fifty-five families are registered for the event, and hundreds are expected to attend. There is no cost of admission for friends and family.
“We are so excited to be celebrating families and honoring them for the hard work they have put into the process of making their way back to each other. This celebration is for those parents that showed up even when it was hard, the kids who hung in there through a tough chapter, and everyone putting in the effort to rebuild something stronger than before,” Presiding Juvenile Department Judge Lori Bustamante said.
The event will serve as a day for families to have fun and celebrate their hard work toward family reunification. The day’s festivities include hours of trampoline jumping, a family photo booth, certificates of appreciation, lunch and refreshments. Associate Presiding Judge Danielle Viola, Judge Chuck Whitehead, Judge Ronee Korbin Steiner and former Presiding Juvenile Court Judge Colleen McNally will be in attendance.
To commemorate the long journey to reunification, Governor Katie Hobbs signed a proclamation officially declaring June as Family Unification Month. Her proclamation highlights that approximately 50% of families have successfully reunified after their dependency cases closed.
Family Reunification is the presumptive case plan upon initial removal of children from the home. To complete the reunification process, parents must work closely with the Court and meet regularly with attorneys, case workers and service providers. The process may also include drug testing and visits with counselors.
“When a family comes back together, it reflects growth, accountability and unwavering love. Recognizing these reunifications shines a light on what’s possible when families are given the tools, compassion, hope and time they need to thrive again,” Judge Bustamante said.
Maricopa County is just one of many communities across the country celebrating family reunification during the month of June. Maricopa County hosted its first Reunification Day event in 2014. Many counties in Arizona now host events as well.