Nothing about me without me: Children and young people's experiences with family group conferences. Issue 1 (6th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Merkel‐Holguin, Lisa; Schwab‐Reese, Laura; Drury, Ida; Allan, Heather; Hollinshead, Dana
• Is Part Of: Child & family social work. Volume 25:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 27
• Page End: 36
• Publication Date: 2019-06-06
• Subjects: child perspectives -- child welfare -- empowerment practice -- family engagement -- family group conferences -- participation; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Family social work -- Periodicals; 362.7
• DOI: 10.1111/cfs.12648
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1356-7500

Abstract

Abstract: Modern social work practice increasingly emphasizes the inclusion of service users in decision making during the service provision process. There is a growing movement within the child welfare system to include parents and the wider family network in decision making. However, children and young people's roles in child welfare system participatory processes where decisions are made about their lives have been understudied. The family group conference (FGC) is one such decision‐making process, which has been adopted internationally with the expectation that children and young people's voices and perspectives, along with their family members, will be elevated and influence decisions. As part of a 3‐year federal project of FGCs in one jurisdiction, this study collected fidelity data from professional and family member participants of FGCs, including children and young people. Descriptive data from a small sample of child and young people participating in FGC suggest differences in their perspectives regarding family empowerment, transparency, and inclusion in decision making, when compared with the perspectives of other family members and professionals for whom data are available. Suggestions for further reflection on FGC practice and additional ways to understand children and young people's perspectives about their involvement are noted.