Considering Family Reconnection and Reunification after Child Sexual Abuse

• Do family members have the skills
and understanding to supervise
ongoing interactions?
• Does the family have the resources to
follow through on a safety plan in all
aspects of their lives?
• Does the adult, adolescent, or child who
did the harm understand the impact of
what he or she did and do they have the
ability to control their behaviors?
Other concerns about reconnection and
reunification, which may be driven by
misunderstanding, bias, or fear, rather
than thoughtful consideration, must
be acknowledged to address reflexive
resistance or uninformed insistence.
These may include:
• Single-minded desire to punish the
person who caused harm.
• Philosophical stance: i.e. “We just do not
do that,” OR “We must always forgive
someone for their transgressions…”
• Belief/fear that creating safety/change
is not possible.
Beyond these initial, broad concerns and
questions, below is a list of more specific
circumstances that would provide strong
prohibitions against family reunification
or reasons to build capacity before anyone
proceeds further.
• Offender-treatment provider and
community supervisor do not give
their approval: Before the clarification
or reunification begins, the person
who abused should have completed
specialized treatment and have the
agreement of the treatment provider
and community supervisor. Without
approval from the treatment provider
and community supervisor, reunification
will likely fail, and ignoring their
concerns is likely to pose an increased
risk for the child and his or her family
(Cumming and McGrath, 2005; Gilligan
& Bumby, 2005; Schladale, n.d.).
• The caregivers are in denial: If the
caregivers do not believe the offense
occurred, they may not have the
willingness, skills, and readiness to
provide adequate supervision and
support, capacity to identify potential
risky situations, and/or offer any form
of protection (ATSA, 2005; Gilligan
& Bumby, 2005).
• Lack of family capacity: If key
members of the family are currently
experiencing untreated psychiatric
disorders, substance abuse, domestic
violence, or are exposed to other
overwhelming stressors, these
circumstances may prevent adequate
family supervision and compromise the
safety of the child. By addressing these
issues, the family may be able to pursue
family reunification (ATSA, 2005;
Cumming & McGrath, 2005; Gilligan
& Bumby, 2005).
• Family minimizes the seriousness
or the impact of the abuse: This kind
of family reaction has the potential to
negatively affect the child, interfere
with the treatment of the person
who caused the harm, and create
an environment that is not focused
on safety (Gilligan & Bumby, 2005;
Schladale, n.d.).
30 www.nsvrc.org