Services
Family Group Decision Making Program

Family Group Decision Making services are provided through CONCERN's Northeast Office.

What is Family Group Decision Making?

Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) is a practice that recognizes the role and long tradition that families have the best understanding of how to care for its members. It respectfully invites and offers families the opportunity to come together as the best possible people to make decisions on keeping their children safe. The family will develop their own plan to ensure the emotional & physical well being of its members.

Why Try FGDM?

Family Group Decision Making is voluntary. FGDM helps keep families together and assists in identifying the strengths and creativity of the family. The immediate family unit has the opportunity to invite friends, extended family members, and service providers to a meeting. The Group’s goal in the meeting is to develop a plan that will enable the family to remain intact and safe while utilizing professional support services, and developing positive relationships within the community in which the family resides.

F-G-D-M

STEP - BY - STEP

Step 1
A FGDM referral is made to the FGDM Coordinator.

Step 2
The family will be contacted by the FGDM Coordinator, and will have the opportunity to discuss FGDM and the current family issues.

Step 3
Once the decision is made to hold a Family Group Conference, the family generates a list of people they would like to invite to the conference.

Step 4
The coordinator will begin contacting the individuals on the list. The family also has the right and privilege to contact anyone on the list.

Step 5
A date, time, and location is identified for the Family Conference. The participants are notified.

Step 6
The family and participants generate a food list to bring to the conference in order to eat and share at “the table” with each other during “Family Private Time” at the conference.

FAMILY CONFERENCE

The Family Conference is the invited guests gathering in order to develop a plan which focuses on the safety and well being of the children, as well as the overall needs of the family unit.

Introduction

The meeting begins with greetings and a discussion of guidelines and purpose. The FGDM coordinator’s purpose is to clarify issues, monitor the meeting, and keep the group focused and on track. A co-facilitator attends for the purpose of taking group notes and displaying them on the board.

Sharing

Everyone has the opportunity to share relevant information that will be of assistance to the family and will aid in the care of the children. It is a time to ask questions and share ideas. The service providers in attendance will provide information on the specific services and programs that can benefit the family. Sometimes, the family has already developed a relationship with a service provider.

Private Family Time

Those invited, except the facilitators and service providers, will have the opportunity to bring the family strengths, concerns, group ideas and thoughts to the table. Over some food and beverage, the group will create a Family Plan.

Plan Review & Finalization

When the plan is created and “Family Private Time” is over, all participants once again gather together. The plan is then reviewed, re-worded, clarified, understood, agreed upon, and written clearly.

Meeting Adjourned

The Family Conference is adjourned when the plan is completed and the goals of the plan are clear.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The family as well as those individuals and service providers identified with a role in the plan, will receive a copy of the plan. The plan will be monitored by the same individuals and follow up contact by the FGDM Coordinator will occur with the immediate family and the children.

ORIGINS

Family Group Decision Making began in New Zealand in 1989. The concept and practice came to the United States in 1996. The practice of FGDM is throughout all 50 states and Canada.

Click here for a printable Family Group Decision Making brochure

- - - - - - - - - -