Responding to shame and stigma in child protection and reunification

In this episode, host Alicia talks with senior manager, Sam, and therapeutic practice lead, Kathy, from Centacare’s Unify reunification service.  

They discuss what it can be like for children and parents to be separated from each other by the child protection system. They share the ways these families can experience and respond to shame and stigma, as well as some misconceptions about the families they support. Sam and Kathy also offer insights into the reunification process and how they support the families they work with.

Content warning: This podcast includes themes of child protection and child removal. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.

In this episode, you will learn:

• about the families Sam and Kathy work with and the kinds of stigma they face [5:48]
• what ‘reunification’ means in a child protection context [13:43]
• the ways families Sam and Kathy work with have responded to shame and stigma [27:14]
• how Sam and Kathy have seen children respond to the shame and stigma they have experienced [29:48]

Further information and resources:

Standing up to shame and stigma by responding directly on our own or with help [fact sheet] 

Staying connected with your children while navigating child protection [podcast episode]

Centacare’s Unify family reunification services
*for similar services in your state search for “family reunification services” in your web browser  [fact sheet]

Learning how to parent when you weren’t parented well yourself [podcast episode]

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