PROGRAM GUIDE - American Humane Association

Honouring the Circle, Connections and Wisdom
Skills Institutes
and Intensive
Seminars
Preserving the Integrity of
FGC in the Sea of Family
Engagement Meetings
Sheila Robinson,
Ministry of Children and
Family Development,
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Sunday, September 25, 2011
10 A.M. – 5:30 P.M. (Lunch on your own)
Over the last number of years, a number of family engagement strategies
have been developed to augment the traditional FGC process. The reasons
for developing other family engagement meetings have differed across
jurisdictions, but have included: the family’s need to bring people together
in urgent situations, timeliness, engaging families at the “front door” of
the child welfare system, agency resources and finding family early in the
child welfare process. The development of the family engagement process
are well intentioned and often very effective; however, the question arises
of how we can maintain the integrity of the FGC methodology when
faced with other processes that, on the surface, can appear to be easier,
more efficient and, some would argue, achieve the same outcomes. This
skills workshop will explore the development of the family engagement
strategies and look at them in context of child welfare service delivery. The
workshop will provide some practical tips and strategies for agencies and
practitioners to employ in order to preserve the FGC methodology when
facing the challenge of increasing numbers of other family engagement
strategies. Most importantly, the facilitator will discuss the value of FGC
and why it should be preserved as a separate and distinct process.
Focus on Follow-Up
Anita Horner,
American Humane Association,
Englewood, Colo., USA
Why is follow-up vital to the successful implementation of the plan? What
does follow-up really entail? How does a follow-up conference differ from
an initial conference? How can effective follow-up occur while continuing
to support a family-driven process? This skills institute will address
these questions and other follow-up related topics, through didactic
presentation, group activities and discussion, where participants will
explore how to inform and enhance individual and system-wide practice.
This institute will focus on defining and more thoroughly understanding
the function and vital role of the follow-up component of the FGC/FGDM
process, and how it directly impacts the successful implementation of
the plan after an FGC is held. Through group activities and discussion,
participants will consider how to inform and educate family groups,
coordinators, service providers, communities and organizational systems
about how to support and implement effective follow-up efforts, while
maintaining a family-driven process that is reflective of FGC values and
philosophy.
1 st Canadian Conference for Family Group Conferencing 5