Family reunification in child welfare refers to the process of returning children in temporary out-of-home care to their families of origin. Reunification is both the most common goal for children in out-of-home care as well as the most common outcome. According to preliminary estimates from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), reunification was the case plan goal for nearly half (45 percent) of all children in foster care on September 30, 2002. More than half (54 percent) of the children who exited foster care during fiscal year 2002 returned to a parent or principal caregiver (Children’s Bureau, 2004a). Since the majority of children who leave foster care are reunified with their families, it is important to focus on practices that help achieve successful reunification.