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What
is Family Group Conferencing?
A
Family Group Conference or FGC provides the opportunity
for some families involved with child protective services
to participate in a solution that assures the safety
of children and other members of the family. FGC is
a meeting that brings together family members, friends
and family support workers to discuss concerns and share
information. During the FGC, the family may or may not
have time alone, with or without service providers in
the room, to create a plan of action that provides safety,
protection and stability for the children in the family.
The purpose of a FGC is to help develop partnerships
among families, their friends, community members and
public officials to build on a family's strengths and
create a safe family life for children.
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What
happens in a Family Group Conference?
Family
Group Conferencing consists of a series of eight
steps. They are:
1.
Purpose
2. History
3. Strengths
4. Dreams |
5.
Fears/Issues/Concerns
6. Who you are
7. Needs/Options for Services
8. Preparation of the Plan. |
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A
facilitator, who is trained and experienced in FCG,
will lead this process. She/he is not involved with
the Court or Office of Family and Children in any way.
By the end of the meeting, the group will have created
a plan and a way to review it over time.
What
will a family be asked to do if they choose to try Family
Group Conferencing?
 Make
a list of your relatives and/or friends to invite.
Meet
with the Family Group Conferencing Coordinator who will
also speak with each person on your list.
Help
to select a comfortable, safe place and a convenient
time.
Decide
whether you want to make your family plan with the help
of professionals or with the assistance of a
trained facilitator.
Come
to the meeting; share your views and listen to others.
All
children under 18 will have a support person present.
Other family members may have a support person
also.
How
can a family be referred to Family Group Conferencing?
A
family may be asked to participate in Family Group Conferencing
by their local Office of Family and Children Family
Case Manager. It is also possible that a Judge may recommend
or order a family to try this process.
What
are the Benefits of Family Group Conferencing?
| Shared
Responsibility |
Family
members and workers come together to make important
decisions. |
| Strengths
are Identified |
Workers,
service provides and family members identify and
discuss the strengths of the family. |
Concerns
and Issues
are Discussed |
Workers
discover that family members are often concerned
about the same issues that workers are concerned
about. |
| Improved
Relationships |
Family
conferences build trust and expand communication
between conference participants. Family Conferences
improve relationships between workers and family
members, as well as improve relationships that family
members have with each other. |
| Identifies
Resources |
Along
with identifying resources that are available from
the 'system' and the community, family conferences
seek to identify the sources within family systems. |
Family
Specific
Service Plans |
Family
conferences provide opportunities to develop service
plans that are specific to the needs of the individual's
family. |
| Establishes
Hope |
That
families are willing to care for their own. |
For
more information about Family Group Conferencing, contact:
Julie Stewart
Family Group Conferencing
(317) 545-5281 X252
stewartj@childrensbureau.org
Family
Group Conferencing Sponsored By:
Marion
County Superior Court,
Juvenile Division
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