FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAM
Advent House is a community-based, non-denominational non-profit organization that presently operates two Single Room Occupancy (SRO) facilities for homeless persons, housing over eighty people at the corners of Linwood Avenue and Cranston Street.
The Family Reunification Program provides a supportive environment for homeless single-parents residing in the Advent House SRO's who have been separated from their children. The supportive services are initially used for developing self-awareness and promoting self-development, and improving basic life skills.
The Advent House Case Manager, the parent, and DCYF together determine whether the parent is prepared to reunite with his/her children.
The Case Manager at Advent House meets regularly with the residents. Each participant establishes individual goals and objectives that are then incorporated into the individualized family case plan, toward the ultimate goal of gaining custody of their children.
After individual evaluation and careful review by the Case Manager, the program introduces supervised overnight visitation between the parent and the child/children in one of our apartments.
The three-unit building, used for overnight visitations, has two- and three-bedroom units. This enables single parents to re-unify with their children in a supervised and supportive environment.
These visitations can be weekly and be for two to three days a week, with visits progressively lasting up to a one month duration, depending on the progress of the participant within the program.
The team monitors and evaluates the family stays in the Advent House apartments to determine that the environment is both healthy and supportive for child and parent. Staff is always available, including the evening hours, to assist where necessary.
After family visitation, within the context of the apartment program, these single parents return to their SRO housing.
Working with DCYF and the resident as a team, the Case Manager then develops a plan with milestones for re-unification in incremental stages. The resident is primary in developing this plan.
The reunification process of homeless single parents living in the SRO and their children does not occur overnight. Staff assists these single-parents.