Balancing reunification and reentry goals

Using event history analysis, this study examines the relationship between reunification and reentry rates for 33 Oklahoma counties with 100 or more reunifications occurring in 2002. After testing for and finding no significant linear, quadratic, or cubic relationships between median time to reunification and percent reentry at 12 months for the 33 counties, we tested for correlations between specific reunification time intervals and reentry rates. Consistent with most research in this area, we found a relationship between early reunification (before 6 months) and higher reentry rates. In a significant departure from existing research, we found the converse of the expected relationship between very early reunification and reentry rates: lower reentry rates for counties reunifying a majority of children within 30 days of removal from the home. Possible explanations for this finding are explored, and recommendations for changing child welfare outcome measures are discussed.