FAMILY GROUP

Family Group Conference Used In Child Welfare

Family Group Conference used in child welfare

Introduction

Family group conferencing has emerged as a child welfare system-transforming practice that fosters new collaborations between families, child welfare practitioners, and the courts. The key components of the model are explained. This article highlights the strengths and challenges associated with incorporating family group conferencing into traditional child welfare agency and court practice. It suggests future practice considerations and outcome-based study that are necessary to strengthen and sustain family group conferencing as a prevention/intervention strategy.

Definition of FGC Practice

FOC is a practice with origins in Texas. In the 1980s, an indigenous people, first proposed the model as a method for addressing intervention by the public child welfare agency in the lives of their children and families. The Maori sought to incorporate traditional tribal principles regarding inclusion of an extended constellation of family members in decisions about what was best for children. A basic premise included using family resources to avoid removing children and placing them in foster care that was not culturally consistent with the Maori people. The FGC was consistent with the traditions of the tribes (Hardin, 1996). FGC holds potential as a model for child welfare reform aimed at balancing child safety with family integrity and building partnerships among family members, the court, social service agencies, service providers, the state child protective system, and the community (Adams & Chandler, 2002).

FGC has four key principles: (a) the process is family centered and moves away from the negative perceptions and blame-placing approach to a strength-based model, (b) respect and value is placed on cultural ideals and practices, (c) families and community involvement is encouraged, and (d) the community is seen as a family support resource (Minnesota Supreme Court, 2000). Each of these principles has shaped the essential elements of FGC.

Despite their variations, most FGC models in child welfare adhere to certain underlying operational themes.

Widening the circle. A major design element of conferencing invites into the decisionmaking process all those who have useful information to share, who love and care about the children involved, or who may have a stake in the outcome.

Putting the problem rather than the person at the center of the circle. Conferencing deals with the aftermath of harmful behavior, but it is a nonadversarial, facilitated process that focuses on healing and preventing future harm rather than on placing blame.

Taking/sharing responsibility for solutions. In contrast to a CPS worker's being responsible for solutions to the family's problems, conferencing, in contrast, builds partnership among family members, communities, agencies, and neighbors. Focusing on family strengths rather than deficits all contribute knowledge, solutions, and resources as they work together to ensure child safety and well-being.

Culturally competent practice. Conferencing is designed to draw on and be shaped by the cultural patterns and resources of the family and community involved, as understood by the family members themselves.

Family leadership and empowerment. In contrast to the traditional power relationship between a CPS agency, ...