NCJ Number
161312
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The use of family group decisionmaking in Oregon's child welfare agency is described, with emphasis on its use in cases involving child abuse and neglect and the development of the family unity meeting model.
Abstract
Oregon has been using family group decisionmaking extensively since 1989 in work with the State Office for Services to Children and Families. Various State laws and administrative rules require active family involvement in care and custody decisions; the family decisionmaking process is one of many options. The essence of the process is the establishment of a collaborative relationship between the government and families to ensure the safety of children at risk of child abuse. The family unity meeting differs from New Zealand's family group conferences in that a facilitator is used throughout the meeting. The meeting is based on the philosophy that families have strengths and can change, that strengths are what ultimately resolve issues of concern, that empowering people is preferable to controlling them, and that a consultant is more helpful than a dictator. The three parts of the meeting are (1) listing the concerns of the agency and those of the family, (2) asking the family and their friends for their best thinking on how to deal with the concerns, and (3) outlining the final plan reached by the participants. A 1994 survey of caseworkers in the State's western region revealed that 66 percent had used the technique during the prior year, that staff had generally favorable attitudes toward the technique, and they regarded the approach as least useful in cases of child sexual abuse and during the assessment or investigation process. Appended facilitator's guide and service agreement form