FAQ

The referring worker must have hope for the family.

Briefly describe the process of FGDM to the family.

The referring worker connects the family with the FGDM Coordinator.

The referring worker attends the conference as one of the key information providers.

Partner with the family after private family time to assure that the plan addresses safety, permanency and well-being concerns and suggest any external supports required.

Accept the plan if bottom-line concerns are addressed or reject the plan if they are not.

To engage and prepare all participants including the extended family, professionals, etc.

To help the family widen their circle of support by including everyone who cares.

Help the group focus on addressing safety/well-being issues threatening the child/family.

To facilitate the conference in a neutral and unbiased manner.

Assure that the conference environment is safe.

To distribute the family plan to all participants.

Coordinator cannot invest enough time to prepare participants

Family not willing to include their family/extended family, etc.  “Widen the circle of support”

A physically and emotionally safe environment cannot be assured at the conference.

Well functioning/supportive family/extended family cannot be gathered after exhaustive search.

Family members cannot refrain from making active threats.

Current investigations involving neglect/abuse.

Children or young people’s participation in some form is encouraged, but children under 12 may lack the emotional maturity to deal with some issues.

The coordinator can help the family incorporate the child/youth’s feelings and thoughts.

Often teens are more supportive if they feel they have been listened to during the decision making process.

The family creates a plan and a back-up plan (if needed) at the FGC.  If the initial plan is not followed, the family can move to their back-up plan.

If necessary, the family has the option of scheduling a second conference.

Some families schedule a second conference as a part of their initial plan in order to monitor or review progress.

The Coordinator Partners with the family to choose a place that is non-threatening/neutral to participants.

Most frequently families utilize our conference room in Bellefonte, PA.  Many churches or other community venues have been utilized for conferences as well.

The average length of a FGC is 3-4 hours.

Families that have a decision to make.

Families that can safely gather to make decisions to keep their child(ren) safe.

Families with enough resources to constitute a group.

The conference must be organized with a well-defined, open ended purpose and no pre-determined outcome.