Family Reunification

SCI’s Ombudsmen work with clients and case management staff to reunite families. This process may include finding and contacting estranged relatives (within and without the United States) mediating family conflicts or developing a "Living Plan" for the entire family, where goals and objectives create a healthier, more supportive family environment. SCI has discovered through efforts at reuniting families that a very large percentage of our clients are estranged from families, because of member’s lack of knowledge about mental illness and misunderstanding of the cause of a client’s behavior. Unable to cope with the display symptoms families splinter and the client ends up in the homeless shelter system. By working with siblings or other relatives SCI is able to involve them in the client’s treatment by facilitating on-site meetings and providing educational information regarding the client’s specific mental illness. Additionally, SCI connects the client and family to resources within the community and to provide follow-up services as needed. Once the client is reunited with family, SCI continues to work with all parties to prevent return to shelter.