Why Does a Parent Drop Out?
Loss of contact can occur for a variety of reasons and sometimes occur for factors outside of the parent’s control. Some of these reasons include:
Rebuild Trust, Renew Bonds
Healing Together
Reunification therapy helps families bridge painful divides and restore healthy connections. With compassionate guidance, we support parents and children in rebuilding trust, strengthening relationships, and creating a safe foundation for lasting family harmony.
Another Chance Program
A plan for parents wishing to reunite with their children
In the years following a separation and/or divorce, 33-40% of children lose contact with a biological parent. This loss can deeply impact the child developmentally, emotionally, socially, and academically throughout the course of their lifetime. Throughout their life a child can be haunted by lifelong feelings of emptiness and abandonment and may experience any of the following:
- A belief that they are not worth of the absent parent’s love and presence.
- Increased risk of being in involved with ‘state systems- DJJ, DSS, etc
- Poor school performance, including higher rates of dropping out and grade incompletion
- Increased risk taking behaviors and higher rates of teen pregnancy
- Increased use of drugs and alcohol
- Increased aggression and acting out
- Feelings of shame, rejection, anger, sadness, guilt and confusion
- A desire to know they are missed and thought about by the absent parent
- A need to develop stories that explain the parent’s disappearance
WE KNOW YOU ARE READY TO DIVE IN AND GET STARTED BUT THE REUNIFICATION PROCESS NEEDS TO GO SLOW!!!!
A Reunification Plan MUST be built around a child-focused timeline. This typically means that the time with the child will not usually start at the level the reunifying parent will like. The reuniting parent has to be willing to commit to a plan that gradually increases the amount of parenting time as the child is able to manage. Contact may beginning with phone calls, cards, emails or letters.
Length of time may vary and is based on many factors
You are laying the foundation for what will hopefully be a lifetime of involvement with the child
Healing & Connections
Reunification Therapy Services
Trust Building
We guide families to rebuild trust with empathy and consistency.
Open Communication
Encourage honest dialogue to strengthen understanding between family members.
Conflict Resolution
Develop healthy strategies to address disagreements and manage challenges.
Emotional Healing
Support children and parents in processing feelings with compassion.
Stronger Bonds
Foster deeper connections that nurture long-lasting family relationships.
Positive Growth
We encourage resilience and stability to create healthier family futures.
Be Prepared
Reunification Readiness Check
Before beginning reunification therapy, it’s important to reflect on your readiness. True healing requires consistency, emotional responsibility, and willingness to place your child’s safety first. Parents must address past behaviors, commit to therapy, and prepare for financial, emotional, and legal responsibilities. Readiness ensures the process unfolds in a supportive, stable, and sustainable way.
Reunification Process
Step-by-Step Family Healing
Team Support
A collaborative approach involving therapists, parents, and co-parenting professionals ensures everyone’s needs are understood and addressed in a supportive environment built for healing.
Guided Steps
From separate intakes to supervised and unsupervised visits, each phase is carefully facilitated to gradually restore trust and strengthen the parent-child bond.
Flexible Path
No two families are alike; timelines adapt to the child’s comfort and history, allowing reunification to unfold safely and sustainably at the right pace.
01
Patience Matters
Rebuilding trust is not instant. Families must embrace small steps, remain consistent, and allow time for emotional healing. Gradual progress leads to stronger, more lasting bonds between parents and children during the reunification journey.
02
Open Communication
Honest, respectful dialogue fosters cooperation and reduces conflict. By keeping the custodial parent informed and modeling healthy communication, parents create an environment where children feel supported, safe, and reassured throughout the reunification process.
03
Accountability Counts
Taking responsibility for past actions demonstrates growth and reliability. Acknowledging mistakes, avoiding excuses, and showing positive change helps rebuild confidence, allowing children and co-parents to see genuine commitment to a healthier family future.