Preventing Disruption of Family Relationships in Child Welfare
For a child who has been removed from a parent or caregiver, parent-child visits can be stressful and dysregulating; for infants and toddlers, who cannot fully express themselves, these visits can be especially challenging. Because the first two years of a child’s life are critical for forming attachment relationships, separation from a primary attachment figure or any rupture to the relationship, like witnessing violence in the home, can harm a child’s development. Parents and caregivers act as a secure base for infants and very young children, and as a regulator for a child’s stress response system such that a child’s ability to function under stress is dependent upon the presence of their primary caregiver. Thus, parent-child visits can be overwhelming and confusing for these young children since their primary source of security and regulation has been removed and visits create repeated reunions and separations. Supporting meaningful, positive parent-child visits is one way to lessen the harmful effects of attachment disruption on a child’s development.
Based on the discussions of multidisciplinary groups of child welfare professionals across six counties where Strong Starts operates, the following tip sheet has been created to best support parent-child visits. It’s important to note that each child has a different relationship with their parent or caregiver so the suggestions provided should act as guideline and be adapted to the needs of each child and family.
