Family Group Conferences are used to make plans for children in a number of different contexts: Child Welfare, Youth Offending, Education Welfare, Domestic Violence, Children as Young Carers, Foster Breakdown, adoption, etc. There would appear to be no particular area of work where this process is unsuitable.
What are the benefits of family group conferencing?
Family group conferences put families in charge of the decision making; the process strengthens families and respects and affirms each family’s unique cultural experience.
What is a CPS family team meeting?
Family Team Meeting (FTM) The family team meetings usually are held before CPS files a court petition for removal, when children are still living at home with their parents. The family team meeting is a way for CPS to decide quickly if safety concerns can be addressed without having to remove your child.
Where did family group conferencing come from?
Family group conferencing was developed from a Maori tradition in New Zealand, where it is currently used for most juvenile offenses. The process was adapted by police in Australia, and then introduced to the United States, where it is currently used by some police agencies, schools, and probation.
Are family group conferences mandatory?
A family group conference is a family-led meeting in which the family and friends network come together to make a plan for a child. Children are usually involved in their own family group conference, often with support from an advocate. It is a voluntary process and families cannot be forced into one.
Do family group conferences work?
There is only “weak” evidence to suggest family group conferencing (FGC) is effective, a study has found. But it said the lack of evidence as to their benefits should provoke debate as to how local authorities can best involve children and their families in decisions about their lives.
How long does a family group conference last?
4-6 weeks
The optimal time for conducting an FGC is 4-6 weeks on average from the time that the Co-ordinator is allocated, although if the family network is sizeable, there are relatives abroad or some work is required to encourage family members to engage with the coordinator, they can take a little longer.
What is a child family team?
A Child & Family Team Meeting (CFT) is a strength based meeting that brings to- gether your family, natural supports, and formal resources. The purpose of the meeting is to address the needs of your family and to build upon its strengths.
What is a family team?
Family Team Meetings bring together a family and interested people, like friends, neighbors and community members, with resources from child welfare, mental health, schools, and other helping agencies. The purpose of Family Team Meetings is to keep children safe, promote children’s well-being and support families.
Is family group conferencing effective?
FGC was equally effective as CAU in improving child safety but resulted in more out-of-home placements. Furthermore, FGC resulted in a longer duration of child welfare involvement, a marginally higher number of professional services used, and increased parental empowerment and social support.
What happens at a family conference?
A family group conference is a process led by family members to make decisions about a plan to care for a child, young person or other vulnerable family member who is at risk. Children and young people are usually participants at the conference, sometimes with the support of an advocate.
Can I refuse a family group conference?
If the local authority has or shares PR (under a court order) and the wider family wishes to go ahead with an FGC but the parents do not agree, the local authority can give consent to the FGC, providing it is in the child’s best interests to do so.
What is family group conferencing in a child welfare context?
Family group conferencing in a child welfare context – A review of the literature. Family group conferencing (FGC) is a method of resolving, or attempting to resolve, family issues in relation to child protection. It brings together the family, the child and professionals to meet and develop a plan for future action.
What is family group decision-making?
Family group decision-making is a generic term that includes a number of approaches in which family members are brought together to make decisions about how to care for their children and develop a plan for services. Different names used for this type of intervention include family team conferencing,…
Why was family group conferencing introduced in New Zealand?
Suitability for culturally diverse and indigenous communities. Family group conferencing was first introduced into legislation in New Zealand after dissent by Maoris against pakeha (European-descent) expert-driven approaches, which they saw as undermining their kinship structure and cultural identity.
What are the different types of family interventions?
Different names used for this type of intervention include family team conferencing, family team meetings, family group conferencing, family team decision-making, family unity meetings, and team decision-making. Approaches differ in various aspects, but most consist of several phases and employ a trained facilitator or coordinator.
