The guiding principles of family group decision making are
self-definition of family
inclusion of extended family
respect for family's self-knowledge
strength-based orientation
cultural relevance and value
family desire and responsibility to make decisions for their members
emphasizes mutual linkage between families and communities
Professionals and resources, both formal and informal, provide structure and support for the family group decision making process. They also provide the support and services that the family determines that they need.
Many agencies are incorporatingfollow-up, either as part of the plan phase or as an additional phase. However, family group decision making is not a practice model that can be incorporated in agencies without addressing utilization issues. The practice requires organizational and community support.
Family group decision making was developed for use in child welfare where it has been used extensively in many different jurisdictions. Other disciplines are embracing the practice, including CalWORKs and juvenile probation. The concept emerged simultaneously in New Zealand, where it is known as family group conferencing, and in Oregon, where it has been known as Family Unity. Many similarities exist and both models have continued to evolve.
Family group decision making is being refined by practitioners and tailored to meet the needs and values of the community. Practitioners are in constant discussion about the defining elements of the practice, leading to increasing standards of practice and deliberate decisions about elective elements.
Family group decision making is a family-centered practice that maximizes family input and decision making with professional agency support. Important characteristics include
Family as self-defining and inclusive: meaning that the family defines membership, which often extends beyond blood or legal ties. The characteristic is inclusive, which means family is viewed both vertically (including multiple generations) and horizontally (both mother's and father's side even if one parent is not available).
Family is culturally relevant and responsive. Family group decision making is a professional articulation of an age-old practice. Families, even clans and tribes, have engaged in planning and assisting members in caring for their young. Some models, especially family group conferencing, are deliberate in their emphasis on cultural relevance by building in an opening ritual selected by the family to emphasize their cultural link and to help participants to focus on the meeting's purpose. Some practitioners are working to identify common terms in family group decision making in the family's language of origin, thus building a new vocabulary for the practice.
The community, as evidenced by agency and other professionals, is supportive. In any situation involving risk to an individual, family or the community, safety is the paramount concern. Thus, it may be agency representatives who set parameters addressing safety. They are responsible for sharing information and provide the support for the family conference to take place. It is important for the family conference to take place in a manner that is conducive to family interactions, safety and privacy. The agency representatives assist with arrangements, which may include financial support to bring the family together such as providing travel funds and food for the meeting itself, and provide preparation and facilitation services. Finally, the agency representatives are committed to suggesting ways that the family plans might be strengthened and for identifying ways that the agency can support and, when apporpriate, resource family plans.
Preparation is a key phase. The phase is critical to discovering and addressing issues that may compromise the creation and support for a family's plan. Lack of adequate preparation can derail the family conference.
Family alone time. Originally, only family conferencing featured family alone time, when all agency representatives and other professionals leave the room and allow the family to make decisions and craft their plan. Practitioners see family alone time as a critical and defining component of family group decision making. The experience has been one in which sensitive family situations, such as family violence and sexual abuse, can be conferenced with adequate preparation and protocols in place.
Copyright UC Davis Extension - The Resource Center for Family-Focused Practice
