THE NATURE OF FAMILY REUNIFICATION SERVICES IN THE GAUTENG PROVINCE

Placement of children in alternative care is supposed to be a temporary and not a permanent arrangement. In the absence of a family reunification model in South Africa, most children stay for longer periods in alternative care than necessary. This article concludes that family reunification services should be holistic in order to be effective, which is possible in the framework of a developmental approach. Keywords: children in alternative care, child protection, family reunification, family reunification services, intervention research, rights-based approach