Maintaining strong family connections can provide a vital sense of identity, stability, and emotional support for children and young people in the care system. 

By implementing thoughtful strategies that prioritise family intervention and encourage meaningful connections, care providers can help ensure that children feel supported and less isolated. Despite our commitment, we know well that nothing can substitute for family.

This guide explores effective approaches to keeping families together in care, with a focus on fostering healthy visitation, promoting sibling bonds, and maintaining relationships with extended family members.

The Importance of Maintaining Family Connections

The family is the fundamental unit in any society, although family structures can vary significantly across different countries and cultures. In the view of philosopher Michael Novak, families represent the “original and best department of health, education, and welfare.” Families are essential in nurturing both the emotional and physical needs of their members. This nurturing fosters individual well-being and enables each person to make a positive contribution to their community, thereby enhancing the community’s economic and social development.

For children in care, family bonds are often a source of comfort and identity. Whether it’s regular visits with parents, phone calls with grandparents, or quality time spent with siblings, these connections provide stability during a tumultuous time. Here’s why preserving family relationships is critical:

Regular contact with family members offers children in care a sense of belonging and emotional stability, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and abandonment. Family connections also help children maintain their cultural heritage, traditions, and personal history, which are essential to their self-esteem and sense of identity.

Studies show that children who maintain strong family ties often experience better emotional and psychological outcomes, even when they cannot live with their parents. When safe and feasible, maintaining family relationships can ease the transition for children returning to their birth families.

Establishing Positive Relationships with Families

Research by Morris et al. (2017) demonstrates the effectiveness of family-centred approaches that include families in decision-making processes, recognise parents as experts in their children’s lives, provide practical support to overcome barriers in participation and finally maintain transparent communication about care plans and progress.

Establish Open and Transparent Communication

Effective communication is fundamental to keeping families together. Share updates regularly on progress or challenges to help family members feel included and informed. Make sure to create a feedback loop and encourage families to voice their concerns and suggestions.

Encouraging Family Participation

Active involvement strengthens bonds and improves outcomes. Regularly scheduled meetings allow for updates, shared decision-making, and collective problem-solving. Be sure to encourage families to participate in caregiving tasks, recreational activities, or therapy sessions.

Supporting Healthy Visitation with Parents 

Encouraging and facilitating healthy visitation between children in care and their parents is a cornerstone of family intervention. 

Create a Safe and Welcoming Environment

Design visitation spaces that are comfortable, neutral, and child-friendly. This helps both parents and children feel at ease and promotes positive interactions. Make sure parents always feel comfortable and welcome.

Set Clear Expectations

Work with parents and children to establish visitation goals and guidelines, ensuring everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. Regular feedback and communication can help keep visits on track.

Provide Supervised Support When Needed

For families dealing with complex dynamics, supervised visits can ensure safety while allowing parents and children to interact meaningfully. Trained staff can model positive behaviours and offer guidance during visits.

Encourage Consistent Scheduling

Regular, predictable visits help build trust and provide children with something to look forward to, fostering a sense of stability.

Offer Parenting Support

Provide parents with resources and training to improve their parenting skills, whether through workshops, one-on-one coaching, or referrals to community services.

Keeping Siblings United

Sibling relationships are often some of the most enduring and meaningful bonds in a child’s life. Yet, siblings in care are sometimes separated due to logistical or placement challenges. 

Facilitate Regular Visits

Even when siblings cannot live together, ensure they have frequent opportunities to spend time together. This might include shared outings, joint therapy sessions, or family days organised by care providers.

Encourage Shared Experiences

Provide opportunities for siblings to bond through activities like meals, games, or group outings. Shared experiences help maintain their connection and create positive memories.

Engaging Extended Family Members

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins can offer additional layers of support and connection for children in care. Including extended family in a child’s life helps to create a broader support network and reinforces a sense of belonging. Strategies for involving extended family include:

Conduct Comprehensive Family Mapping

Work with the child and their immediate family to identify extended family members who may be willing and able to maintain contact or provide support.

Facilitate Family Meetings

Organise meetings with extended family to discuss the child’s needs and explore ways they can contribute to their well-being, whether through visitation, mentorship, or practical assistance.

Promote Regular Communication

Encourage phone calls, video chats, and letters to help children stay connected with extended family members who may live far away.

Include Extended Family in Celebrations

Birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions are ideal opportunities to involve extended family and create a sense of normalcy for children in care.

Addressing Barriers to Family Connection

While maintaining family ties is crucial, it’s not without challenges. Common barriers include logistical issues, strained relationships, and legal restrictions. Strategies for overcoming these obstacles include:

Use Technology to Bridge Gaps

When in-person visits aren’t possible, tools like video calls, messaging apps, and online platforms can help maintain connections.

Provide Transportation Support

Many families face difficulties accessing visitation due to transportation challenges. Offering assistance, such as travel stipends or organised transportation, can remove this barrier.

Navigate Legal Challenges

Collaborate with social workers and legal teams to address court orders or custody arrangements that may limit family contact, always prioritising the child’s best interests.

Building a Sense of Community

Beyond the immediate family, fostering a sense of community can help children in care feel supported and valued. 

Encourage Peer Relationships

Support friendships with peers both within and outside the care system. Peer connections provide emotional support and reduce feelings of isolation.

Involve Community Resources

Partner with local organisations, schools, and faith groups to provide additional support and opportunities for children and their families.

Celebrate Cultural Connections

Recognise and honour the child’s cultural background through community events, cultural education, and the inclusion of family traditions.

As a final note

Keeping families together in care requires a proactive, compassionate, and collaborative approach. By fostering healthy visitation, prioritising sibling bonds, and engaging extended family members, care providers can help children maintain critical connections that support their emotional well-being and personal development. 

Through thoughtful family intervention and a commitment to preserving relationships, we can create a care system that not only meets children’s immediate needs but also helps them thrive within the context of their families and communities.

The Role of JM Workforce

At JM Workforce, we recognise the unique challenges faced by residential care homes, particularly when staff shortages or crises arise. We are dedicated to providing reliable, professional, and compassionate staff at short notice. Whether you require emergency coverage, crisis intervention, or ongoing support, our team is prepared to step in and ensure that your care home continues to operate smoothly, even during the most challenging times.

Our staff are not only highly trained and experienced but also specifically equipped to address the complexities of family dynamics in care settings. We work closely with you to understand your needs and ensure the right professionals are placed in your care home. Whether you need short-term coverage or long-term support, JM Workforce provides quality staff ready to support your team and the families in your care.

With JM Workforce, you won’t have to face staffing challenges alone. Let us help you maintain a safe, supportive, environment while ensuring the highest standards of care for the young people you serve.