Considering Family Reconnection and Reunification after Child Sexual Abuse

etween abuse perpetrated within the
family versus outside of the family.
This document concentrates primarily
on situations where abuse was reported
to police or child protective services, and
where the person who sexually abused
a child was prosecuted and found guilty.
However, it is crucial to remember that for
many families, no report will have been
made and/or there will have been no arrest,
court case, or state intervention.
Yet, such families face (or overlook) the
same issues and questions that will arise in
any formal reunification process, including
establishing effective boundaries, safety,
and the possibility of future harm. When
a report has not been made, families may
not have the support, experience, and
additional accountability provided by
professionals involved in reunification,
increasing the risks for all. Although this
guide cannot address all the complexities
of those situations, some of the tools
offered here may be helpful to families
who are interested in creating a safety plan
and developing the skills to adequately
implement that plan.
Crucial considerations when contemplating
the possibility of reconnection, clarification,
and reunification (Gilligan & Bumby, 2005;
Harper 2012) include:
• whether the adult, youth, or
child who abused has learned to
recognize and control his or her
impulses and behaviors;
• the family’s ability and commitment to
supporting and reinforcing that change;
• the possible risk of re-victimization;
• and the effectiveness or availability of
the child welfare and judicial systems to
supervise families before, during, and
after reunification.
This guide is not an endorsement of
clarification, reconnection, or reunification
for every situation or a recommendation
for all families. However, regardless of the
outcome of the decision-making process, it
will provide insights into the questions that
need to be asked and information about
the resources and tools available for any
family or sexual assault advocate working
with the individuals and families affected
by sexual abuse.
10 www.nsvrc.org