FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCES |
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| Authors: | Susan M Chandler Marilou Giovannucci |
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| Institution: | Susan M. Chandler is a professor of social work and the interim director of the Public Policy Center at the University of Hawaii. Between 1994 and 2002 she served as the state director of Human Services and oversaw its child welfare reform efforts and the development of a statewide family conferencing program for child protection.;Marilou Giovannucci is a manager in the Court Operations Division, Family, Juvenile and Support Unit of the Connecticut Judicial Branch. Since 1996, she has served as the State Court Improvement program director and has engaged in court reforms efforts related to child protection matters. She has been extensively involved in the development of dependency mediation in Connecticut and has consulted and conducted training in numerous states around the use of nonadversarial dispute resolution methods in dependency cases. |
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| Abstract: | Family group conferencing has emerged as a child welfare system–transforming practice that fosters new collaborations between families, child welfare practitioners, and the courts. The key components of the model are explained. This article highlights the strengths and challenges associated with incorporating family group conferencing into traditional child welfare agency and court practice. It suggests future practice considerations and outcome-based study that are necessary to strengthen and sustain family group conferencing as a prevention/intervention strategy. |
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| Keywords: | conferencing collaboration empowerment family conferencing child welfare full participation |
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