Family Group Conferencing

 

A family group conference is a culturally safe meeting of family, children, and those that ‘feel like family’. At a conference, the family supports come together to develop a plan to help solve worries and to make sure that the children get the care and support they need.

How does Family Group Conferencing work?

There are four basic steps:

1. The family works with the coordinator to identify who should participate other than the social worker. After the conference participants have been agreed on, the coordinator sets up a meeting with each participant to talk to them about what family group conferences are all about and to prepare them for the day of the conference.
2. At the conference, the coordinator makes sure everyone knows each other, feels welcome, and understands how the process works. The family and the invited participants will talk as a group about the reason for the meeting, worries, and the support services that are available to help the family.
3. After that, the family has private time with their support network to work out a plan for the future. The coordinator will be available in a nearby room to answer any questions.

When the family and support network has finished developing a plan, the social worker will be asked to return to the meeting and review the family plan. The social worker will approve the plan if it meets the child’s need for safety.
 

How can I access?

A referral can be made to the coordinator ANY TIME during involvement with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and is available to families that reside in the North Thompson Valley:

• When a social worker has assessed that there are worries about the safety of a child or youth.
• And the social worker and parent agree that a family group conference would be the appropriate way to plan for the child’s safety.
• Then the social worker makes a referral to a family group conference coordinator. 

Funded by MCFD : Referral Form

 

Annual Summary Report - 2023