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Family Group Decision Making
Referral
The referral to family group decision making is made by the case carrying social worker. Depending on implementation decisions, the referral may be at critical decision points such as
- emergency response
- out-of-home placement
- permanency
However, referrals can be used at any time during the continuum of child welfare services and at multiple times during a single case.
In most jurisdictions, participation in family group decision making is voluntary. Some agencies have moved to a policy that every family will be informed about family group decision making and will be offered an opportunity to participate. In a few areas, juvenile courts have ordered family group decision making. Since referral is a family-centered approach, most agencies inform and offer the option to the family and report the family response to the court.
The process of sharing family group decision making with the family is an important demonstration of the underlying values. The worker's belief in the value of family, respect for the family's self-knowledge, the commitment of family to caring for its members and a strengths-based approach is evident in their approach to the family.
The referral is managed by the family group decision making coordinator, who is an impartial party with no connection to the case. The case carrying worker maintains all other case responsibilities and participates in the team portion of the actual meeting.
If the family accepts the referral, the coordinator begins the preparation phase.
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