Course Overview
This intensive four-day training prepares participants to effectively facilitate Child and Family Team Meetings (CFTMs) across the intervention continuum, including prevention and safety planning and ongoing case management. Grounded in the Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM), the training establishes a shared foundation for trauma-informed, culturally responsive and family-centered facilitation practice.
Through guided instruction, modeling and coaching, participants develop skills in engaging children, youth, families and team members before, during and after CFTMs; applying ICPM-aligned engagement and teaming behaviors; facilitating structured, solution-focused dialogue; and completing required charting and documentation to support CFTM practice fidelity. Embedded opportunities for hands-on facilitation practice using case scenarios allow participants to demonstrate competency and receive feedback to support ongoing professional growth.
Who Should Attend
This course is geared toward CFTM facilitators. It strongly recommended for CFTM facilitator supervisors, placing agency caseworkers and STRTP staff.
Per All County Letter 25-54, completion of this training is required for:
- Placing agency CFT meeting facilitators
- Contracted CBO staff facilitating CFT meetings under the terms of a formal agreement with placing agencies.
- BHP staff facilitating CFT meetings under the terms of a formal agreement with placing agencies.
Learning Objectives
After attending this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe how the Engagement and Teaming Behaviors identified in the ICPM are foundational to effective Child and Family Team Meetings (CFTMs).
- Differentiate between the two types of CFTMs (Prevention/Safety Planning and Ongoing Case Management) by identifying their purpose, required elements and best practices for each.
- Explain how consensus-based decision making is used in the CFTM to identify strengths, needs and actions or interventions to support child and family well-being.
- Describe the role, responsibilities and characteristics of an effective facilitator in CFTMs.
- Analyze how personal biases, assumptions and values may impact the team and contribute to power imbalances within the Child and Family Team.
- Identify and sequence the 8 steps of the CFTM facilitation structure ("Super 8").
- Explain how information from the IP-CANS is used to uplift family voice and choice and inform decision-making and the development of behaviorally based case plans.
- Describe the purpose and required elements of charting and documentation of the CFTM action plan, including its role in supporting CFTM practice fidelity.
- Demonstrate effective engagement of Child and Family Team members through transparent, respectful and collaborative communication before, during and after the CFTM.
- Apply engagement and teaming practice behaviors to facilitate a CFTM using a case scenario.
- Reflect on and identify opportunities for personal and professional growth, using coaching and feedback strategies, to achieve positive outcomes and experiences for children and families.
- Validate the ICPM as a foundational guide for trauma-informed, culturally relevant, child/youth- and family-centered practice.
- Commit to the use of CFTMs to facilitate dialogue with families and their teams to ensure that decisions are made collaboratively and that plans reflect family voice and choice.
- Recognize the importance and value of each participant's role in teaming and shared decision-making, including the central importance of the families' community, cultural, tribal and natural supports in sustaining positive outcomes.
- Uphold and apply the ethical responsibilities of a meeting facilitator including respect, transparency, cultural humility, trauma responsiveness and accountability.