Evaluation of the Family Group Conferencing Pilot Program

• NCJ Number: 240743
• Author(s): Hayley Boxall; Anthony Morgan; Kiptoo Terer
• Date Published: 2012
• Length: 112 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation; Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: AIC Reports Research and Public Policy Series, No. 121

Annotation

This report presents the findings and methodology of an evaluation of the New South Wales (NSW) family group conferencing (FGC) pilot program, which is a family-led decisionmaking process, intended to improve outcomes for "at-risk" children and youth who have come into contact with the child protection system.

Abstract

The evaluation findings overall were positive. The significant outcomes of the FGC were high levels of satisfaction with the way conferences were conducted and the content of family plans. A high proportion of the conferences resulted in a family plan being developed and implemented by the family. There was evidence of improved working relationships between some families and the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS), which was responsible for implementing the FGC pilot program. As a result of FGC, families have been able to develop family-focused strategies that address child safety concerns raised by child protection authorities. Under the FGC, plans to benefit at-risk children are more likely to be implemented than in the past, and children are more likely to be placed with family members; however, a number of factors have challenged the effective implementation of FGC. These include low referral rates and resistance from professionals accustomed to the previous case-management practices. FGC is the only model in New South Wales that addresses child-related family matters outside of the court process. The promising findings of this evaluation combined with other research findings on the effectiveness of FGC support a strong argument for making it part of the New South Wales Government's proposed child protection legislative and policy reforms. The FGC involves a family-led decisionmaking process in which the family, child protection workers, and service providers discuss and develop a plan intended to ensure the safety and well-being of an at-risk child or youth. 7 figures, 32 tables, 19 references, and appended evaluation methodology, program logic model and evaluation framework, and a discussion of FGC in the care and protection jurisdiction