Parents, children celebrate reunification in Tacoma



Dozens of families celebrated being together Thursday on Reunification Day in Tacoma.

All around Wapato Park, there were smiling faces of moms, dads and kids playing together on the first day of summer. Not too long ago, however, this scene would not have been possible. Many of these parents had their children removed from their custody. They’ve been reunited after months of work in classes and programs through Pierce County Dependency Court.

Graduates say the hard work is more than worth it.

“I know what it feels like to not say good morning to a kid,” said Jacey Harris, a graduate of the program. “Not to have them every day not to see them all the time. And to be there for them, I wanted to love myself and love my child.”

Last year 387 children were reunited with their parents in Pierce County through these programs.