The Barriers of family reunification timing in child welfare with California's Department of Children and Family Services.

Abstract Los Angeles County of Department and Children & Family Services: Barriers of Family Reunification Timing with Child Welfare By Denise Reche' Johnson Master of Public Administration in Public Sector Management and Leadership The length of time until a child is reunified with their family of origin after being removed by child welfare varies according to the need for family preservation. The Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) service planning area (SPA) 2 region has a six-month time frame expectancy for family reunification. This study will assess the barriers to family reunification timing with child welfare and examine factors that some families are subjected to that can interfere with the timing of family reunification. Previous studies have focused on causes of child welfare involvement related to parental substance abuse, parental mental illness disorders, and parental homelessness. This study will examine the barriers of court-ordered services and how these services impede the FR six-month time frame expectancy. Furthermore, this study will focus on the three factors, some associated barriers, and how they correlate as co-occurring problems that can impede the timing of family reunification.