Family Group Conferencing in New Zealand Child Protection Work (From Family Group Conferences: Perspectives on Policy and Practice, P 37-48, 1996, Joe Hudson, Allison Morris, et al, eds. - See NCJ-161303)

• NCJ Number: 161305
• Author(s): S Fraser; J Norton
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

The family group conferences introduced in New Zealand in 1989 have changed the way in which cases of child abuse are handled in that they acknowledge the family group's primary role in caring for and protecting children and increase family participation in child protection decisionmaking.

Abstract

The police and social workers of the New Zealand Children and Young Persons Service have statutory responsibility for investigating and resolving all reported child abuse. If the investigating social worker decides that the child is in need of care or protection according to the legal definitions, a care and protection coordinator facilitates the family group conference process. The coordinator negotiates decisions on who should attend the conference, where and when the conference should be held, and what protocols should be used. The meeting has three distinct parts: (1) introduction and information-giving, (2) private family time to consider the issues raised, and (3) negotiation of the plan. Balancing power is crucial to the process. The skills, training, and personal attributes of the social workers and coordinator are critical to the process. Case example