| This study used a phenomenological qualitative approach and thematic analysis to explore parental attitudes associated with reunification within Departments of Children and Family Services in California. The study explored how these attitudes developed and what role they played in reunification. Building upon a review of literature on successful reunification, the researcher designed a Child Welfare Services (CWS) parental history questionnaire, a CWS history questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview guide to be used during the data collection. The researcher conducted the CWS questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with eight participants (seven women, one man) who have had at least one successful reunification in California. The researcher conducted a thematic analysis across the dataset and the parental attitudes were both positive and negative. Overall, participants reported being grateful that CWS became involved in their lives because they were helpful and supportive in providing the needed resources. Participants self-identified humility, advocacy, and perseverance as being helpful attitudes for achieving reunification. Participants gained insight through feedback from services providers and attorneys, which helped developed the attitudes of humility and learned skills of advocacy. The limitations of this study, implications of these findings, and future directions of this field of research are discussed. |
