Many States, counties, and localities have implemented family group decision-making either in selected jurisdictions or statewide. The following examples provide descriptions of implementation plans and processes, practice guidelines, evaluations, and outcomes from programs throughout the United States.
Facilitated Family Engagement
Colorado Department of Human Services (2018)
Describes family meetings in Colorado designed to provide families that have an open child welfare case with case-planning meetings aimed at resolving safety concerns as effectively and efficiently as possible. The Facilitated Family Engagement Meetings value live decision-making and the family's voice as the best way to promote safety and permanency for children.
Family Group Decision Making (FGDM)
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Explains the practice of family group decision-making in Texas and how the process works, basic values behind the program, and why it is used to work with and engage children and their families.
Family Group Decision-Making: Parent Advocates in New York City [Podcast]
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Children's Bureau (2017)
Presents a podcast that showcases how parent advocates are using their knowledge to support families within family group decision-making. Listeners will learn how New York City's Enhanced Family Conferencing Initiative expands the role for its parent advocates to work with families.
Family Team Meetings
Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services
Describes family team meetings in Louisiana, which bring together family and other community members with resources from child welfare, mental health, schools, and other helping agencies. The team members work together to learn what the family hopes to accomplish, set goals, and recognize and encourage the family's strengths, identifying their needs, and finding solutions. The website outlines steps in the process, describes what the meetings look like, and discusses benefits to this program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) for Child and Family Teams (PDF - 116 KB)
California Department of Social Services (2016)
Reviews the most frequently asked questions specific to the child and family team meeting process in California. The website discusses issues like when a meeting is required, how frequently the team should meet, when meetings should end, who facilitates meetings, and more.
Making a Difference at Child and Family Team Meetings
Kearney (2016)
Fostering Perspectives
North Carolina Division of Social Services and the Family and Children's Resource Program
Outlines the phases of the child and family team meeting process in North Carolina and offers examples of how resource parents can make important contributions during the meeting. After providing an overview of the process, the article ends with the statement that parents and kinship caregivers bring so much to child and family team meetings and can help shine a bright, positive light on a difficult situation.
Team Decisionmaking
Family to Family California (2018)
Explains the process of team decision-making as a strategy to focus on placement issues for children involved or potentially involved in foster care. The team meeting model involves caseworkers and their supervisors as well as birth families, community members, resource families, and service providers all in one place.