Family Group Decision MakingA method of bringing family members together in a family-focused, culturally-sensitive approach to develop a safety, reunification or alternate permanency plan for children who are in foster care, who are at risk for entering foster care or who are already in care and in danger of aging out without a permanent resource. FGDM involves meeting with immediate and extended family members and any parties important in the children’s or families’ lives. Unlike the traditional child welfare case conferencing, the family is in charge of the meeting and responsible for creating the recommended plan and identifying the attendees. The caseworker’s participation primarily involves sharing of information and resources and accepting the family’s plan (if safety concerns are adequately addressed). Unique to this practice is private family time that excludes any non-family members.
FGDMA method of bringing family members together in a family-focused, culturally-sensitive approach to develop a safety, reunification or alternate permanency plan for children who are in foster care, who are at risk for entering foster care or who are already in care and in danger of aging out without a permanent resource. FGDM involves meeting with immediate and extended family members and any parties important in the children’s or families’ lives. Unlike the traditional child welfare case conferencing, the family is in charge of the meeting and responsible for creating the recommended plan and identifying the attendees. The caseworker’s participation primarily involves sharing of information and resources and accepting the family’s plan (if safety concerns are adequately addressed). Unique to this practice is private family time that excludes any non-family members.
Family MatchingFamilies waiting to be matched with a child need extensive engagement and development. The FamilyMatching unit includes ongoing efforts in these areas as well as activities to identify a child for placement with an eligible SWAN family through implementation of a Family Matching Plan. This is an affiliate referred, 8-month unit of service with the ability for the affiliate to refer for a 4-month extension. The referral can only be made by the agency that completed the SWAN Family Profile.
For more information see the 06. SWAN Units of Service and the 08. SWAN Benchmarks & Templates of the Toolkit.
Family PreservationA way of preserving family unity by providing services to children and families in their home. It is based on the standard that the birth family is the preferred family life for children.
