Family Reunification Month

For most children in foster care, reunification with their family is the best option for a permanent and loving home. Each year, thousands of children are successfully reunited with their families after parents work hard, gain new understanding and skills, and partner with social workers and courts to meet extensive requirements.

Courts have held family reunification celebrations for years. The Washington State Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care is excited to proclaim June 2025 as a statewide celebration of Family Reunification Month among courts and communities across Washington, and to sponsor the annual commemorations. For 2025, the statewide celebration is not focusing on one specific month but rather encouraging and supporting celebrations at any time that works for a court and community.

Safe reunification of children with their parents is the primary goal of the dependency process, which strives for learning and healing. The Commission on Children in Foster Care encourages everyone to join in celebrating families that have worked so hard and succeeded in reunifying.

2025 Celebrations in Washington

• Benton/Franklin Counties
  June 28, 2025
  
• Clark County
  August 23, 2025
  11:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
  Leroy Haagen Memorial Park
  13198 NE 9th St, Vancouver
• King County
  June 15, 2025
  11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
  Gene Coulon Park
  1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N, Renton
• Kitsap County
  June 4, 2025
  2:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
  Family Court Services
  1338 SW Old Clifton Road, Port Orchard
• Pierce County
  June 26, 2025
  2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
  Wapato Park (Main Picnic Shelter)
  6500 S. Sheridan, Tacoma
• Snohomish County
  June 24, 2025
  1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
  American Legion Memorial Park
  145 Alverson Blvd, Everett (Everett Transit Bus Route 17)
• Skagit County
  June 9, 2025
  4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
  2700 Martin Rd, Mt. Vernon
• Spokane County
  June 21, 2025
  11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
  Franklin Park Gazebo
  5520 N Division St, Spokane
• Thurston County
  July, 22, 2025
  6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
  Hands on Children's Museum
  414 Jefferson St NE, Olympia
• Whatcom County
  June 26, 2025
  Squalicum Park
  640 Marine Dr, Bellingham
• Yakima County
  June 23, 2025
  12:00 p.m. (noon)–5:00 p.m.
  Cascade Gardens
  5704 W Washington Ave, Yakima

In the News

2024

• Yakima family Reunites with Daughter during Reunification Month
  KIMA (June 28, 2024)
• Snohomish County courts recognize and celebrate family reunification
  Lynnwood Times (June 14, 2024)

2023

• Wenatchee mother shares journey to regain custody of her children
  The Wenatchee World (June 30, 2023)
• "Instilling Hope": Family Reunifications Celebrated as New State Law Emphasizes Keeping Families Together
  Washington Courts (June 21, 2023)
• Reunification ceremony celebrates families overcoming challenges and welcoming children back home
  Yakima Herald-Republic (June 19, 2023)

2022

• Court celebrates families becoming whole
  GoSkagit.com (August 25, 2022)
• 'They turn their lives around:' Families celebrate the finish line of reunification process
  Kitsap Sun (July 12, 2022)
• Part of the community: Spokane celebrates Family Reunification Month
  KXLY (July 9, 2022)
• Never underestimate a cycle-breaker: Parents celebrate hard work in reuniting with their children
  The Spokesman-Review (July 8, 2022)
• Reunification ceremony celebrates families overcoming challenges and welcoming children back home
  Yakima Herald (June 19, 2022)
• "Families Made Whole": June Starts Celebration of Reunited Families Across Washington
  Washington Courts (June 8, 2022)

2021

• Reunification Day event recognizes parents' work to get their children back
  The Daily News (August 19, 2021)
• The importance of reunifying families
  The Islands' Sounder (June 27, 2021)
• The Mason County Family Reunification Court Team
  ABA Center on Children and the Law (June 2021)

2020

• 'You can do this.' Pierce County court celebrates family reunifications with car parade
  The News Tribune (August 1, 2020)

2019

• Family Reunification Day
  The Daily World (July 17, 2019)
• Reunification Day celebrates parents' work to get their children back
  The Daily News (June 28, 2019)
• Kitsap families, separated by foster care, celebrate reunion
  Kitsap Sun (June 27, 2019)
• Skagit County celebrates family reunification
  Skagit County Herald (June 27, 2019)
• Reunification Heroes: Celebrating the Child Welfare Professionals and Parents of
  Island County, Washington
  American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law (June 21, 2019)
• Families Together: Yakima reunification celebration honors longtime advocate
  Yakima Herald-Republic (June 21, 2019)
• 'Reunification Day' for Pierce Co. families disrupted by addiction, domestic violence
  Yakima Herald-Republic (June 20, 2019)
• Bringing families back together
  The Islands' Sounder (June 13, 2019)
• Fostercare guardians needed
  The Islands' Sounder (June 3, 2019)
• June is Family Reunification
  The Island Guardian (May 17, 2019) - link no longer exists to this article

2018

• Pierce County families celebrate 'Reunification Day' after completing Dependency Court
  Q13 Fox (July 17, 2018)
• San Juan County Superior Court and Juvenile Court Services celebrate family reunification and volunteers
  San Juan Journal (June 29, 2018)
• Local parents celebrate getting another chance to raise their children
  The Olympian (June 28, 2018)
• These families are back together. Their judges, social workers and others
  went to the party.
  Tacoma News Tribune (June 24, 2018)
• Parents, children celebrate reunification in Tacoma
  Q13 Fox (June 22, 2018)
• Pierce County parents in recovery reunite with children
  KING 5 News (June 21, 2018)
• Parents are unified with their children at Yakima County Juvenile Justice Center
  KIMA TV (June 21, 2018)